The city of Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recorded a positive development indicator at the global level, as it jumped 18 ranks at once in the international index issued by the report of the International Institute for Administrative Development of Smart Cities, to reach the 53rd place among 107 cities around the world, ahead of that over ancient global capitals such as Tokyo, Paris, and Rome.
Globally, Singapore, Helsinki and Zurich topped the index in a year that witnessed a decline in the performance of many European cities, due to the aftershocks of the Covid-19 pandemic, and its impact on the lives of residents in those cities.
The index is based on how residents perceive the scope and impact of efforts to make their cities "smart", and to achieve a balance between "economic and technological aspects", taking into account "human dimensions". The report seeks to be a reference and a tool to work on building inclusive, smart, and dynamic cities, to contribute to bridging the gap between the aspirations and needs of the population, and the political trends in the way cities are built.
The Saudi capital, Riyadh, has made progress in most indicators, including smooth access to medical and cultural services, the availability of lifelong learning opportunities by local institutions, ease of access to job listings and job opportunities through the Internet, and the quality of teaching electronic skills in schools.
Source (Asharq Al-Awsat Newspaper, Edited)
