Abu Dhabi, Dubai top Smart City Index 2021 in Middle East

For the second year in a row, Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been ranked as the smartest cities in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Compared to 2020, both the emirates climbed 14 places globally. While Abu Dhabi is ranked 28, Dubai is closely behind at 29, out of 118 cities.

The index, by the Institute for Management Development (IMD), in collaboration with Singapore University for Technology and Design (SUTD), surveys residents in ranked cities to assess smart infrastructure and services covering health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities and governance.

In the past 18 months, the UAE has been able to successfully deploy several smart solutions, which have enabled the country to contain the spread of the pandemic.

The highlight has been the launch of Al Hosn app for contact tracing with a record of all PCR test results, vaccination certification and a QR code to be used as a green pass. This app has been instrumental in the return of activities across the country.

Additionally, the facility of chatbot service: virtual Covid doctor, electronic wristband to monitor self-isolating patients among others are some of the smart solutions implemented by the local authorities.

Such measures have resulted in the number of new Covid-19 cases remaining below 100 for more than a week.

Bruno Lanvin, president, the IMD Smart City Observatory, Switzerland, noted the pandemic has seen an acceleration of digital and ecological transformations in smart cities.