Dubai has received prodigious attention for its enormous and rapid urbanisation. As one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, the city has sought to become the most global city in the world, attracting multitudes of tourists and businessmen from all over the world. The construction boom that has yielded iconic architectural buildings, soaring skyscrapers and artificial islands has attracted worldwide attention. While its experimental architecture is often discussed, very little is said about its public spaces. Public spaces that serve as gathering places and transition paths between buildings are as important as each building. This article is about these public spaces in Dubai that are often ignored and aims to identify the reasons behind this phenomenon. Public space plays a vital role in the social and economic life of communities as a meeting place and connector between destinations. Public spaces help to promote social interaction and a sense of community and therefore it is essential to critically analyze how they are established in the urban environment. Dubai, however, is struggling with the scarcity of these public spaces and often discourages them due to many sociopolitical factors: the city-state's corporate governance system, the failure of central urban planning and social exclusion. While the city boasts its remarkable architecture and world-class entertainment, it lacks crucial public spaces that must be addressed to improve urban community conditions and create a more connected and livable city for its residents. What constitutes public spaces and why are they lacking in this huge city of Dubai? There are many types of public spaces and it is arbitrary to define ...... middle of paper ......Harvard University Graduate School of Design.Kamin, Blaire. "In Dubai, you can't get there from here; architectural feats are weakened by poor urban planning." Chicago Tribune, January 8, 2010. http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2010/01/in-dubai-you-cant-get-there-from-here-architectural-feats-undercut-by-shoddy-urban -planning.html (accessed 4 December 2013). Kent, Ethan. “Where the Sidewalk Ends: Dubai.” Streetsblog (blog), 5 January 2007. http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/01/05/where-the-sidewalk-ends-dubai/ (accessed 4 December 2013). Jandaly, Bassma . “25,000 Dubai pedestrians penalized for walking along road.” Gulfnews, 12 November 2012. http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/25-000-dubai-pedestrians-penalised-for-jaywalking-1.1104029 (accessed 4 December 2013).Michael Pacione, ' Profile of the city: Dubai', City, vol. 22, no. 3, 2005, pages.259-60