Two UAE Cities Among Top 20 In Global Smart City Rankings
The UAE has once again demonstrated its leadership in smart city innovation, as evidenced by the latest findings from the IMD Smart City Index 2024. In a significant achievement, both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been ranked among the top 20 smart cities globally, outshining their previous standings in 2023.
Abu Dhabi made an impressive leap, moving up three places to secure the 10th spot, while Dubai advanced five places to rank 12th. This accomplishment positions Abu Dhabi and Dubai as the sole representatives from the Middle East in the top 20, showcasing the region's growing influence in the global smart city landscape.
The IMD Smart City Index, which evaluates 142 cities worldwide, combines objective data and citizen surveys to assess how cities use technology to improve residents' quality of life. Zurich leads the global rankings for the fifth consecutive year, with Oslo and Canberra rounding out the top three. Other cities making the top five include Geneva and Singapore.
According to a statement from IMD, Abu Dhabi's consistent top-tier performance since the index's launch in 2019 places it alongside global leaders such as Zurich, Oslo, and Singapore. The report also notes Riyadh's upward movement, now ranking 24th, indicating its potential to break into the top 20 soon.
Saudi Arabia boasts the highest representation in the index, with five cities listed, including Mecca and Jeddah. Additionally, the index features other Arab cities like Doha, Muscat, Cairo, and Beirut, highlighting the region's diverse urban development efforts.
This analysis is the result of collaboration between the Smart City Observatory of the IMD World Competitiveness Centre and the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organisation (WeGO), based in South Korea. IMD, renowned for its excellence in business education, is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
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