Abu Dhabi has been named the smartest city in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region according to the IMD Smart City Index, an annual study released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). This is the third consecutive year Abu Dhabi has achieved this honor, and the city was ranked 13th globally out of 141 cities that were included in the survey.
The IMD Smart City Index is an important reference used by international organizations, decision makers and institutions to measure the impact of national strategies in enhancing levels of welfare, achieving progress, and promoting the quality of life for people. The study evaluates current infrastructure and digital services available to local residents, relying on variables related to citizen’s feedback and their interactions with the government efforts across five main pillars: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities and governance.
In response to the development, the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) Chairman is proud of Abu Dhabi’s ranking as the smartest city in the region. He has stated that the city’s global leadership in this field is a translation of the vision and commitment of the leadership to embrace the digital transformation and use it to serve the community and enhance its well-being. The Department of Municipalities and Transport has utilized latest-generation technology such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to establish the city as a smart and sustainable destination. The department continues to build on the momentum of achievements to enhance Abu Dhabi’s position as the regional leader in terms of technology and smart city development.
Smart cities have helped develop many key sectors in Abu Dhabi, such as the smart transportation and the smart economy, which is based on advanced software that helps develop many sectors, including public and smart transportation. Interactive platforms have also been built with the public in order to identify their needs, aspirations and interact with them in a transparent manner. This puts them at the centre of government work and provides easy access to services.
The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) is an international business school located in Lausanne, Switzerland and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) are the organizations responsible for the development and launching of the Smart City Index. IMD has been ranked as the top-ranked business school in Europe for the seventh consecutive year by the Financial Times’ global ranking, and SUTD is the only university in Asia to feature in the top-10 of the QS World University Rankings for Artificial Intelligence 2020. The two organizations have jointly worked to provide citizens with the necessary resources needed to measure and score the success of their cities.
