The papers brought together in this special issue capture the state-of-the-art on "Development in the Gulf" and what are termed "sustainable, intelligent and smart solutions" to the pressing challenges rapid urbanization in these states poses. Under this heading the issue brings together five papers from experts who have been particularly innovative in applying them to the built environment. Collectively they offer a series of critical insights into aspects of affordable housing development within the Gulf States and the assessment methods available to evaluate whether these solutions are not only sustainable, but also intelligent and smart. Individually they are presented as a set of case studies in the development of sustainable, intelligent and smart solutions.