Infrastructure Resilience in Hyper-Arid fast-growing Cities: Public Perceptions, Institutional Confidence, and AI Trust in Dubai

Urban resilience in rapidly growing cities requires more than technical infrastruc- ture solutions, it depends on public awareness, institutional trust, and acceptance of emerging technologies. Dubai provides a critical case where climate stress, demographic diversity, and a Smart City agenda converge, a reality underscored by the April 2024 extreme rainfall event that caused widespread flooding and transport disruptions across the city. This study examines resilience perceptions in Dubai, integrating hazard awareness, preparedness, institutional confidence, and trust in AI-enabled systems. Results show that visible hazards such as floods and traffic disruptions dominate risk perception, while slower-onset threats like groundwater depletion remain underestimated. Preparedness is strongly corre- lated with institutional confidence but is significantly lower among expatriates. While AI-driven resilience solutions attract support, trust in these technologies is conditional and hinges on oversight, transparency, and inclusivity. The findings highlight three interlinked vulnerabilities, fragmented hazard perception, uneven preparedness, and fragile trust in institutions and technologies. From these, five principles are proposed to guide resilience strategies, broaden hazard awareness, make preparedness mandatory, embed transparency in governance, establish safe- guards for AI, and ensure inclusivity across demographic groups. Beyond Gulf studies that emphasize infrastructure or governance capacity, this study provides empirical evidence on how demographic divides, institutional trust, and attitudes toward emerging technologies shape resilience in Dubai. Beginning with a public perception survey as the first stage of a broader mixed methods design, it offers a foundation that will inform subsequent Delphi consultations and resilience planning in hyper arid, fast-growing cities across the Gulf and wider Global South.