Abu Dhabi named smartest city in MENA, 13th globally; Dubai 17th – News

Capital wins third consecutive title; the two emirates are the only cities in the region to feature in the top 20

For the third time in a row, Abu Dhabi has been named the smartest city in the MENA region, according to the 2023 IMD Smart Cities Index report.

The report, published by the Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in partnership with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), ranked Abu Dhabi 13th out of 141 cities worldwide, while Dubai was 17th. These emirates are the only cities in the region to feature in the top 20, with Riyadh in 30th place.

“With the exception of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, all cities occupying the top 20 are either in Europe or Asia-Pacific. Notable is the absence of US or African cities,” the report highlights.

IMD’s annual Smart City Development Study surveyed 120 residents of 118 cities around the world. The study assessed the infrastructure and digital services currently available to residents, relying on variables related to residents’ perceptions and interactions with government efforts across five main pillars: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities (jobs and education) system) and governance.

“Abu Dhabi’s leadership in this area reflects the leadership’s vision and commitment to support the digital transformation journey and use it to serve the community, improving its well-being and quality of life,” said Mohamed Mohammed, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Energy. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) said.

“By embracing next-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, and implementing smart city initiatives across various social, service and economic sectors, including public and smart transport, Abu Dhabi has been able to establish itself as a smart and sustainable city ​​and one of the best destinations in the world to live, work and visit,” Al Shorafa noted.

The smart city has contributed to the development of many key sectors in the emirate, such as the smart transport sector and the smart economy, which are based on advanced software and help in the development of many sectors such as supply, delivery and joint support services.

“At DMT, we are working hard to harness technology and use it to improve the quality of life of the citizens and residents of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. We will continue to work to build on the momentum of our achievements to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s leadership in this field,” added Al Shorafa road.

In addition, an interactive platform has been created with the public to identify their needs and wishes and to engage with them transparently, placing them at the center of the government’s work, in addition to developing and facilitating citizens’ access to services.

According to the ranking, the top 10 smart cities are: Zurich, Oslo, Canberra, Copenhagen, Lausanne, London, Singapore, Helsinki, Geneva and Stockholm.