The province of Al-Khobar has been classified as a smart city for the year 2024, ranking 99th by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). Al-Khobar is the fifth Saudi city to join the list, alongside Riyadh, Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah. This step reflects the progress achieved by the Kingdom in the field of artificial intelligence and demonstrates the realization of Vision 2030 and the aspirations of wise leadership.
The IMD Smart Cities Index is an important measure to highlight the readiness of cities and their use of advanced technology in building smart and sustainable communities.
The index also focuses on evaluating the development of cities in areas such as health and safety, job opportunities and education, transportation, cultural activities, governance, and achieving a balance between economic, technological, and human life aspects. The goal of smart cities is to leverage digital technologies for better resource utilization, carbon emission reduction, increased citizen interaction, responsive public spaces, and meeting the needs of residents.
Engineer Omar Al-Abdullatif, CEO of the Eastern Province Development Authority, expressed pride in the achievement that reflects the significant progress the Kingdom is witnessing in all fields, emphasizing the importance of the wise leadership’s vision in achieving this progress.
Al-Abdullatif clarified that smart cities will provide a better quality of life for all segments of society, improve access to essential services for the population, and contribute to enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors in Al-Khobar. This achievement is a realization of Vision 2030, which aims to provide a strong economy, an attractive environment for investors, and create new job opportunities.
The Eastern Province Development Authority expressed its gratitude to development partners who have significantly contributed to achieving this national achievement.
This gratitude reflects the close cooperation among all parties to achieve the noble vision. It praised the efforts of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, the Housing, the Eastern Region Municipality, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, the Saudi Data and AI Authority, and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, which led to this achievement.
It is expected that the inclusion of Al-Khobar in the Smart Cities Index will attract global investments, companies, and new projects, enhancing economic growth and creating new job opportunities. These connections reflect the commitment of Saudi cities to technological development and building smart and sustainable communities.
