Smart cities in the UAE are gaining ground globally as cutting-edge technologies drive efficiency across transportation, energy, and healthcare, creating a new model for urban living.

According to the latest IMD Smart City Index 2024, Dubai and Abu Dhabi secured significant climbs, solidifying their positions as leading smart city destinations.

Abu Dhabi got a remarkable three-spot jump, landing globally in the coveted 10th position. Dubai followed suit with a five-place improvement, now holding the 12th rank. This makes them the only two Middle Eastern cities within the top 20.

Zurich reigns as the world’s smartest city for the fifth consecutive year, followed by Oslo and Canberra. Other notable entries include Geneva in fourth and Singapore in fifth.

The report also acknowledges the promising trajectory of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital. Ranked 24th this year, a climb of five places, Riyadh appears well on its way to joining the top 20 in the near future. Notably, Saudi Arabia boasts the highest number of listed cities in the 2024 index with five entries, including Mecca, Jeddah, Medina, and Al Khobar.

Other Arab cities featured in the rankings include Doha, Muscat, Cairo, Algiers, Rabat, Amman, Tunis, Beirut, and Sana’a. This widespread presence reflects the ongoing efforts towards smart city development across the region.

The IMD Smart City Index utilizes a comprehensive approach, combining hard data with resident surveys from 142 cities worldwide. This unique methodology sheds light on how cities effectively leverage technology to improve their citizens’ quality of life.

A press release from IMD highlighted Abu Dhabi’s consistent performance within the top tier since the index’s inception in 2019. Zurich, Oslo, Singapore, Beijing, and Seoul also join this elite group.