The Saudi capital, Riyadh, has achieved a new global milestone, adding to its impressive record of successes, as it continued its steady rise in the 2024 Smart Cities Index issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). The report showed Riyadh advancing to 24th place globally out of 142 cities included in the ranking, moving up 6 places from its ranking in 2023, thus recording its best performance since its inclusion in the index began in 2019.
Background on the Smart Cities Index and its importance
The IMD Smart City Index is one of the world's leading benchmarks for assessing cities' readiness to adopt and utilize smart technologies to improve residents' quality of life. The assessment goes beyond technological infrastructure, encompassing residents' own perspectives and experiences in vital areas such as health, safety, mobility, employment and education opportunities, and digital governance. The index relies on a balanced analysis of economic and technological data, combined with comprehensive public opinion surveys, lending it high credibility and reflecting the actual impact of digital transformation on people's lives.
Key factors behind Riyadh's rapid progress
This remarkable progress reflects the scale of investments and efforts undertaken within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which places digital transformation and quality of life at the heart of its objectives. Riyadh has witnessed tremendous development in its digital infrastructure and smart services over the past few years. Among the most prominent of these developments are:
- Smart mobility: Launching mega-projects such as the “Riyadh Metro” and developing public transport applications that facilitate the movement of residents and reduce traffic congestion.
- Digital government services: Expansion of platforms such as “Absher” and “Tawakkalna Services” which have enabled citizens and residents to complete their government transactions easily and with high efficiency via the internet.
- Smart utilities: Increasing reliance on smart technologies in managing public utilities such as energy and water, which promotes sustainability and consumption efficiency.
- The environment that supports innovation: attracting global technology companies and encouraging entrepreneurship in the fields of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, which has made Riyadh a regional center for innovation.
The local and international impact of Riyadh's classification
Riyadh's achievement of this advanced ranking, placing it fifth among the capitals of the G20 countries, carries significant implications on several levels. Locally, this accomplishment translates into a direct improvement in the quality of life for residents through the provision of more efficient and accessible services. Regionally and internationally, this ranking reinforces Riyadh's position as a leading global destination for investment, business, and tourism, and increases its attractiveness to talent and expertise from around the world. It also solidifies the Kingdom's image as an ambitious nation striving to achieve a sustainable and prosperous future based on innovation and technology, particularly as it prepares to host major global events such as Expo 2030.
