In response to the increasing challenges in water service provision, there has been a significant shift advocated in Urban Water Management (UWM) globally, recognized as a critical necessity for cities. Particularly addressing the urban drainage aspect, a myriad of analogous urban planning and design methodologies for decentralized, environmentally friendly systems have emerged worldwide (Fletcher et al., 2014). These methodologies include Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) (Woods-Ballard et al., 2007), Low Impact Development (LID) (US EPA, 2000), Green Infrastructure (GI) (Benedict and McMahon, 2012), Best Management Practice (BMP) (US EPA, 2011), Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) (Wong, 2006), and Sponge City (Liu et al., 2022). Despite variances in scope and context among these concepts, they share a fundamental philosophy: rather than disregarding the natural hydrological cycle, they depend on the "activation of natural processes" (Fryd et al., 2012). In recent years, the intersecting role of greener innovations in promoting financial inclusion has gained attention (Brahmi et al, 2023). Regulatory support is essential to harness the full potential of greener innovations for achieving environmental, economic, and social sustainability.In this context, Aldieri et al. (2021) propose that the government could establish dedicated funds to incentivize companies to enhance their innovative activities within the production process (Aldieri et al.,2021). Additionally, Brahmi and Alderi (2023) have underscored the importance of governance mechanisms and effective policies in the utilization of natural resources to amplify positive economic impacts and mitigate risks, along with their adverse repercussions (Brahmi & Alderi ,2023). This approach is implemented through both structural (green infrastructure systems such as rain gardens and wetlands) and non-structural measures (policies aimed at enhancing water use efficiency) (Beecham, 2003; Butler and Memon, 2006; Taylor and Wong, 2002; Stevens et al., 2012). Wang and Brown's (2009) advocacy for sustainable urban water management principles emphasizes the significance of having access to a variety of water sources, providing ecological services, and utilizing socio-political capital in order to achieve sustainability. Water Sensitive Cities (WSC) has emerged as a promising approach to urban water management, offering multifaceted benefits such as water conservation, stormwater quality improvement, flood control, landscape amenity, and enhanced living environments (Sharma et al., 2016; Ashley et al., 2004; Fryd et al., 2012; Martin et al., 2007; Wong et al., 2013; Wong and Brown, 2009; Woods-Ballard et al., 2007). While WSC systems exhibit significant potential, their mainstream uptake faces several knowledge gaps across technical, economic, social, and institutional domains (Sharma et al., 2016). To fill up these gaps, Rogers (2020) introduced the Water Sensitive Cities Index, a diagnostic tool for assessing water sensitivity and guiding management activities. The index encompasses various goals, including governance, community capital, equity of services, resource efficiency, ecological health, urban spaces, and adaptive infrastructure. In essence, the literature demonstrates the evolution of water-sensitive cities and its integral role in sustainable urban water management. From technical innovations to adaptive planning frameworks, a holistic approach is essential to realize the vision of water-sensitive cities and tackle complex urban challenges. Methodology: 2.1 Data Sources and Selection Process This study leveraged data sourced from the Web of Science (WoS) database, selected for its extensive coverage of peer-reviewed articles across diverse research fields. The comprehensive details provided by WoS, encompassing information on authors, institutions, countries, journals, and citations, make it a fitting source for this research (Yang et al., 2021). On December 10th, 2023, the data collection process involved a topic search that integrated the title, abstract, and keywords. The search terms employed included "water-sensitive city," "water-sensitive urban planning," and "water-sensitive urban design." Following a meticulous review of publication titles and the selection of pertinent articles, a total of 707 articles were incorporated into the database.