Dubai advanced 6 places to 34th in the world, and first in the Arab world in the Index of the Best 50 Governments in Smart Cities for 2021, issued by Eden Strategy Institute in Singapore.
Dubai scored 26.2 points on the general index, outperforming global cities such as Copenhagen, Seattle, Frankfurt, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Vancouver and Zurich.
In global rankings, Singapore topped the smart city index, followed by Seoul in second place, and London third.
The study used 10 main indicators to systematically and comprehensively assess city governments around the world. These factors include: government vision, wise leadership and financing, financial incentives to finance smart city projects, support programs to motivate the private sector to participate in development projects, a skilled workforce, focus on people and their well-being, the system that encourages innovation, smart policies followed, and the city's success record in the field of innovation and adopting advanced technology.
According to the Eden Institute, happiness is a hallmark of Dubai's smart city strategy. Noting the appointment of the UAE as the first Minister of Happiness in the world, with the selection of more than 60 executive directors of happiness in various government departments, to promote the values of positivity and happiness as a community culture and governmental institutional approach.
Source (Al Khaleej Newspaper-UAE, Edited)
