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This study focuses on the assessment and utilization of a design-based approach focused on urban trees as NbS in low-rise residential urban areas to enhance microclimate in neighborhood streets and the public realm in desert areas, taking Abu Dhabi as a case study. This study highlights that the overall cooling effect of urban trees on the outdoor air temperature is influenced by landscaping design (type of vegetation, spacing, etc.), and urban characteristics (surface materials, alleyways, etc.). It provides key information on the key variables that need to be considered for future urban planning and studies that investigate microclimate enhancement in urban public spaces through NbS, particularly in the low-rise residential neighborhoods of hot arid regions.