Global Experts Explore Smart Cities And Urban Innovation At AIM Congress 2025

The AIM Congress 2025 convened today, featuring discussions on technology's role in sustainable urban development. Global leaders and innovators shared insights on creating smart, resilient cities. The panel "Smart Cities and Human-Centric Innovation" explored mechanisms for urban transformation. Akram Awad from Boston Consulting Group stressed the importance of human-centric strategies for Middle Eastern cities.

Amy Marie Hochadel from Expo Dubai highlighted governance models that prioritise cities in urban innovation. Dr. Ahmad Alnafessah from SDAIA presented AI and big data use cases supporting Saudi Arabia’s smart city agenda. Edlam Yemeru of UN-Habitat shared experiences in shaping sustainable urban policies across Africa.

Eunbyul Cho from WeGO Secretariat spotlighted global smart city programs, including the Seoul Smart City Prize. Hazem Galal of PwC discussed smart mobility, sustainability, and competitiveness across over 40 urban markets. Isabel Shirin Enyonam Wetzel of UN-Habitat talked about using climate-smart technologies for inclusive economic growth.

Safder Nazir from Huawei spoke on digital infrastructure's role in city-level innovation. Francesco La Camera of IRENA emphasised renewable energy's centrality in creating sustainable urban environments. Dmitry Kaminskiy from Deep Knowledge Group highlighted frontier technologies reshaping urban infrastructure during the Fifth Industrial Revolution.

In a panel titled "How 5G is Redefining Urban Connectivity, Governance, and Service Delivery," Jawad Abbassi from GSMA provided insights into the region’s 5G readiness and telecom infrastructure evolution. Omar Radaideh of KQTel discussed regulatory alignment for advanced digital technologies in the UAE.

Pritam Goyal from Microsoft stressed data architecture strategies for scalability and sustainability in smart cities. Additional sessions featured perspectives from government and industry leaders like Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Nigeria, who focused on youth empowerment through grassroots initiatives.

Infrastructure Modernisation and Energy Transition

Hakan Ozdemir of Siemens highlighted AI, automation, and cybersecurity's roles in digital city transformation. Khaled Hashim of Honeywell International Middle East emphasised infrastructure modernisation and energy transition strategies for building smart cities.

The discussions at AIM Congress 2025 underscored the significance of integrating technology with urban planning to foster sustainable development. By leveraging innovations such as AI, big data, and renewable energy, cities can enhance resilience and inclusivity while addressing future challenges effectively.

With inputs from WAM