Confrontation of Iranian-Islamic city against the major urban challenges in era of globalization

In the third millennium (as the city and urbanization century), the huge industrial and scientific forces have emerged and gave the unique opportunities to the world. But at the same time, signs of deterioration in the cities, especially in Iranian-Islamic cities, are so emerging that have never seen even in the darkest period of human civilization. Accordingly, this study by using documentary method has attempted to analyze the urban challenges of the era of globalization in four environmental, social, cultural and physical dimensions, and to investigate the nature and character of the Iranian-Islamic city, and finally identify Islamic city`s approaches to confront against these challenges. The results show that the Iranian-Islamic cities has the unique characteristics including self-sufficiency, mixed land-use and pedestrian-oriented neighborhoods, and non-separated spaces, environmentalism, affordable and suitable housing, climate friendly architecture, sustainable security, participation and social cohesion, pluralism, avoiding from excess and extravagance and flow of Islamic traditions and laws that can reduce and eliminate poverty. This means that Islamic city can successfully deal with the urban challenges in era of globalization.