Dubai and Abu Dhabi topped the Arab cities in the `` Smart Cities Index 2019 '' issued by the International Competitiveness Center of the International Institute for Administrative Development (IMD).
According to the index, which is based on a survey that focuses on the opinion of urban residents, which believes in the need to adapt the policy to the lives and needs of citizens, Dubai is the smartest cities in the region, while Singapore is the smartest cities in the world, followed by Zurich, Oslo and Geneva.
The first edition of the index, which ranks 102 cities around the world, has been worked out in partnership with Singapore University of Technology and Design, according to a statement released yesterday.
The new index is based on how people perceive the scope and impact of efforts to make their cities “smart” and balance “economic and technological aspects”, taking into account “human dimensions”.
reference
The Index, which aims to serve as a reference and tool for building inclusive, intelligent and dynamic cities, seeks to contribute to bridging the gap between the aspirations and needs of the population and the political trends in the way cities are built.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi residents were more satisfied with their cities than Paris, Chicago, Osaka and Tokyo. Introduction.
According to the index, both Dubai and Abu Dhabi perform strongly in public safety, smooth access to medical and cultural services, and the availability of lifelong learning opportunities by local institutions.
In addition, residents of the two cities praised the provision of e-services provided by the government, which facilitated the start-up of new businesses and the processing of identity documents online, which reduced waiting times.
A role model
“Dubai and Abu Dhabi are pioneers in using city technology to improve the lives of the population,” said Arturo Press, director of the International Competitiveness Center of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). "Technology is being applied to raise their standard of living."
Press said that Abu Dhabi and Dubai would set an example for the region, which other cities would apply to make them smarter.
He added that «Abu Dhabi and Dubai lead the smart cities in the MENA region in terms of quality of technology and the provision of social services to improve the quality of life».
Population requirements
“The intelligence of cities cannot be measured by a one-size-fits-all approach,” said Bruno Lanvin, head of the Smart City Observatory of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). "In one city, it differs from another, which assesses the true impact of the city's intelligence on people's daily lives."
“For example, Zurich has a strong performance in terms of public transport and smooth access to medical and cultural services, while the citizens of Oslo praise the quality of the solutions (circular economy), online voting, and the strength of the bicycle-centered transport network,” he said.
- Singapore is the smartest city in the world, followed by Zurich, Oslo and Geneva.