The IMD Smart City Index for 2023 includes four Saudi cities. The International Institute for Management Development's survey ranked the Saudi capital city of Riyadh as the third smartest Arab city, maintaining its ranking. (IMD).
In the Arab world, Madinah came in at number seven, Jeddah at number five, and Makkah at number four. This year marks Makkah's maiden appearance in the ranking. Out of 141 cities worldwide, Riyadh came in at number 30, Makkah at number 52, Jeddah at number 56, and Madinah at number 85.
A combination of concerted efforts from all parties and the application of cutting-edge technologies has improved Saudi cities' placement in several sub-indices. The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority's national platform for smart cities is one of these initiatives. (SDAIA).
The IMD Smart City Index focuses on how citizens perceive the scope and impact of initiatives to make their cities smart, the degree to which the economic and technical aspects are balanced while keeping in mind the human dimensions, and the extent to which they help close the gap between the needs and aspirations of the populace and cutting-edge trends in the way smart cities are constructed.
According to their scientific theory, smart cities support the growth of many important industries, including the smart economy and the smart transport sector. The latter is based on cutting-edge software that supports the development of numerous industries, including logistics, delivery, and joint support services. In addition to establishing and making it easier for citizens to receive services, this involves creating platforms that communicate with the public to help identify their wants and ambitions and interact with them in a transparent way that places them in the centre of state agencies' attention.
It is noteworthy that the International Institute for Management Development is one of the most esteemed business schools in the world and a crucial resource for other global institutions and organisations that promote international competition. IMD is a fundamental resource that decision-makers around the world can use to assess how well-being levels, progress, and quality of life have been improved as a result of national plans.
