Dubai rises in global rankings with smart city excellence

Dubai has climbed eight spots to rank 4th globally in the IMD Smart City Index 2025 — a major milestone in its digital transformation journey.

This achievement makes Dubai the highest-ranked city in the GCC, the Arab world, and Asia, cementing its status as a global leader in smart city development and innovation.

The Index, which reflects residents’ satisfaction with city services, shows strong scores across the board, including over 85 per cent satisfaction with internet speed meeting communication needs, online processing of identification documents and cultural activities.

Additional results show 82.8 for the quality of health services, 83.4 per cent satisfaction with access to green spaces, 84.3 per cent for recycling services and 84.5 per cent for cultural activities.

Dubai also improved in 16 out of 20 tech indicators and made progress across all four pillars of technology governance, showcasing its commitment to innovation and people-first urban development.

The ranking aligns with the goals of the Dubai Digital Strategy, which aims to fully digitise life in the emirate, using advanced technologies to enhance quality of life and economic opportunity.

The IMD Smart City Index, issued by the IMD World Competitiveness Center, is a globally recognised analytical tool that assesses how effectively cities leverage digital technologies to enhance residents' quality of life.

Now in its sixth year, the Index evaluates cities across critical pillars including health, mobility, activities, governance and opportunities.

The results are drawn from a direct survey of residents and citizens who express their perception of the city.

Zurich, Oslo and Geneva hold the top three spots, while Abu Dhabi is ranked fifth.

Dubai has advanced eight places to rank 4th globally in the IMD Smart City Index 2025, marking a major milestone in its digital transformation journey. pic.twitter.com/JaLRynkKS3

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 12, 2025