In his address at the Global Smart City Forum organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Saudi Arabia’s minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing, announced that four cities in Saudi Arabia have been included in the smart cities index over the past year. He stated that the Ministry’s objective is to have at least 10 Saudi cities ranked among the top 50 global cities by focusing on effective governance, sustainability, and engaging with residents to fulfill their requirements and promote high levels of well-being.
Read more: Riyadh to host Global Smart City Forum: Shaping the future of urban development
Investing in national capabilities and resources
Moreover, Al-Hogail stressed that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, initiated by the Crown Prince, is an ambitious aspiration that has had a positive impact on the entire region. He added that the country is currently undergoing a period of rebirth, thanks to the investment of national capabilities and resources.
Simulating impact of urban policies and enhancing emergency planning
Additionally, Al-Hogail highlighted the ongoing efforts to develop the national application of “Digital Twin Modeling.” This innovative technology, he explained, will revolutionize the way Saudi cities are planned and operated by facilitating simulations of the impact of urban policies, emergency and disaster planning, and fostering greater collaboration between authorities and residents in the co-designing of cities. He further mentioned that this model will be fully operational by 2025.
نفخر في #سدايا بتنظيم أول منتدى عالمي للمدن الذكية في المملكة الذي يتطرق لمفهوم المدن الذكية وأهميتها وكيفية تسخير البيانات والذكاء الاصطناعي لصناعة مستقبل مُلهم في ضوء مستهدفات #رؤية_السعودية_2030.#المنتدى_العالمي_للمدن_الذكية#حياة_أجود https://t.co/jQpeIR5wMl
— SDAIA (@SDAIA_SA) January 22, 2024
Shaping the future of smart cities
The first-ever Global Smart City Forum is currently taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from February 12-13. In addition, the prestigious event features 80 speakers from over 40 countries, including global city experts, data specialists, AI professionals, smart city engineers, investors, and economic policymakers.
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