Abu Dhabi Breaks into Top 10 Smart Cities
The UAE capital's ascent to the 10th position marks a three-place improvement from the previous year.
Abu Dhabi has secured a place among the world's top 10 smartest cities, according to the latest Smart City Index 2024 released by Switzerland's International Institute for Management Development (IMD).[1]
The UAE capital's ascent to the 10th position marks a three-place improvement from the previous year. Meanwhile, Dubai, another key player in the region's smart city initiatives, has climbed to 12th place from 17th in the rankings of 142 cities evaluated.
The rankings reflect a broader trend of technological progress in the region, with Riyadh making a notable leap of five places to 25th, and Doha advancing by 11 places to 59th. Makkah, Jeddah, and Muscat also made commendable showings, further highlighting the region's commitment to leveraging technology for societal and economic development.
Switzerland's Zurich maintained its number one rating in a top 10 mostly European list; it has done so since 2019 (the ranking was not made public in 2022).
The Smart City Index 2024 evaluates various facets of smart cities, including economic and technological aspects, quality of life, environmental sustainability, and inclusivity. It draws insights from residents' perceptions regarding the availability and efficacy of structures and technology applications within their cities, based on data from the past three years.