Smart Cities in the UAE

“Future generations will be living in a world that is very different from that to which we are accustomed. It is essential that we prepare ourselves and our children for that new world.” — His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

Echoing the words of the Founding Father, it is evident that the UAE is a nation founded with an outlook for the future. We are a nation that not only embraces change, but we ensure that we are prepared for it.

Now, more than ever, UAE organizations are becoming “intelligent enterprises,” adopting and utilizing innovations in artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and advanced analytics to disrupt industries, improve productivity with data, foster a digital workplace, and deliver seamless experiences. These advancements are not only impressive, but they are necessary with rapid changes in technology and evolving habits of younger generations who heavily depend on efficient and integrated daily experiences in cities.

Our national transformation has not gone unnoticed. Abu Dhabi has been ranked at the top of a list of cities in Africa and the Middle East in the McKinsey Global Institute study ‘Smart Cities: Digital Solutions for a More Liveable Future.’ The study assessed how cities use technology to enhance the quality of life across multiple criteria, such as healthcare, security, mobility, economic development, and housing. Even more so, Dubai placed at a close second.

The developments of Abu Dhabi and Dubai are in line with trends in metropolitan cities around the world, which are implementing creative ways to use data in reinventing perception towards their, how the cities are explored, interacted with, and how services are delivered. Abu Dhabi ranking number one in the study is testimony to our ongoing efforts to establish the Emirate as both a destination driven by innovative culture and a highly modern location where people from diverse backgrounds want to create, collaborate, and share their talents.

This is in line with global trends, where experts are quickly figuring out effective methods in building IT softwares into the fabric of cities, while also using the very same technologies to integrate and add value to the provision of urban services in a sustainable manner. This has been encouraging partnerships to thrive beyond

traditional relations, and allows for Fourth Industrial Revolution breakthroughs, smart living, and spreading happiness in the community with tech-enabled, human-centric services. Furthermore, this eases the process of exchanging views among individuals, insights, and ideas, and offers the best mechanisms to meet the needs of people across multiple fields and sectors.

These steps and initiatives have been established globally and adopted locally to accelerate the future drive of the UAE, and the adoption and internalization of an innovative culture pioneered by local talent. Smart solutions encourage people to adopt different habits that have positive effects on their wellbeing, the community, and the environment. The result is not only a more livable city but also a more productive place for creativity to flourish and innovation to thrive.