Everyday Environmentalism in a High-Density Migrant Neighbourhood: Social Norms, Place Attachment and the Spatial Structure of Pro-Environmental Behaviour in Hor Al Anz, Dubai

Abstract

Hor Al Anz, a densely populated residential district in Deira, Dubai, is home to a predominantly South Asian, Arab, and African working population. This neighborhood, spanning roughly four square kilometers, experiences densities approaching ten thousand people per square kilometer. Such districts bear a significant portion of the emirate's environmental footprint concerning household waste, water, and energy consumption. However, they are seldom the focus of behavioral research. This paper presents a spatially explicit investigation into everyday pro-environmental practices within this neighborhood. The study is structured around two primary contributions: the Neighbourhood Environmental Behaviour Ecosystem (NEBE), a framework that contextualizes individual psychology within neighborhood social norms, amenity access, and municipal institutions; and the Community Environmental Behaviour Index (CEBI), a weighted composite measure that can be scored and mapped at a micro-zone scale. Due to the unavailability of a fielded survey at the time of writing, the analysis utilizes an illustrative sample of 412 residents. The response structure aligns with established environmental psychology literature, and the zones are defined by official Dubai Municipality community boundaries. The results serve as a reproducible template rather than definitive findings about the resident population. Measurement quality is robust, with Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.66 to 0.78 and Average Variance Extracted (AVE) exceeding 0.57. A covariance-based structural model demonstrates good fit (CFI 1.00, RMSEA 0.000), indicating that behavioral intention (β = 0.42), perceived behavioral control (β = 0.22), and place attachment (β = 0.24) directly predict behavior. Attitude influences behavior indirectly through personal norms. A proportional-odds model examining waste-separation frequency confirms that control and attachment are the most significant correlates. Cluster analysis identifies three resident segments differing by 16 CEBI points. Global Moran's I is not statistically significant (I = -0.156, p = 0.52), suggesting that at the scale of nine micro-zones, behavior is patterned socially rather than spatially. The study concludes with implications for Dubai Municipality's community engagement and waste-service design, and the survey instrument is provided for future deployment.