The national local policy vacuum in sustainable land use planning : Al-Qatif Oasis, Saudi Arabia

"Despite a high-level commitment to sustainable development in Saudi Arabia, many national policies (e.g. for land-use planning, the environment, agriculture and water) have largely failed to protect the natural resource base of one of its most important oases (Al-Qatif) through an absence of comprehensive and integrated policies, a lack of effective implementation of existing policies, a lack of effective co-operation between governmental agencies responsible for physical development, planning and environmental protection, and finally through a lack of public participation and education. We describe and highlight those factors that have contributed to the unsustainable development of the oasis and then offer guidelines for more sustainable development in the future."