According to a report from SPA, four cities in Saudi Arabia, namely Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah, and Madinah, have achieved high rankings in the IMD Smart City Index (SCI) list for 2023.
The Saudi capital, Riyadh, retained its position as the 3rd Arab city in the IMD SCI 2023, while Makkah, Jeddah, and Madinah were included in the observatory for the first time, ranking 4th, 5th, and 7th respectively.
Globally, these cities ranked 30th, 52nd, 56th, and 85th out of 141 cities included in the Smart City Observatory, which aims to assess how technology is improving the quality of life for residents.
This year’s index has focused on residents’ awareness of the impact of smart technology systems, as well as the balance between economic, technological, and humanitarian factors.
The Smart City Observatory is a global index that assesses cities’ preparedness and evaluates the contributions of smart tech systems to residents’ living standards.
The improved rankings of these Saudi cities were the result of collaborative efforts by various agencies, including the National Smart City Platform launched by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).
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