Dubai has made a remarkable leap in the IMD Smart City Index 2025, climbing eight places to secure 4th position globally. This achievement cements Dubai’s status as the highest-ranked city in the GCC, the Arab world, and Asia, underscoring its leadership in smart city development and urban innovation.

The index, compiled by the IMD World Competitiveness Center, evaluates 146 cities worldwide on how effectively they integrate digital technologies and infrastructure to improve residents’ quality of life.

Dubai excelled in key areas such as online medical appointment booking (84.5% satisfaction), internet speed reliability (86.5%), and online processing of identification documents (85.4%). It also scored highly in health services quality, access to green spaces, recycling services, and cultural activities.

Dubai’s success is driven by progress in 16 out of 20 technology indicators and strong performance across all four pillars of technology governance, highlighting the city’s commitment to continuous innovation.

Notably, Dubai outperformed traditional leaders Zurich, Oslo, and Geneva in transport-related smart services, including vehicle-sharing applications, smart parking search, and bicycle rental usage. These mobility innovations have contributed to improved traffic flow and reduced congestion by up to 25% through AI and big data integration.

For the real estate sector, Dubai’s smart city advancements signal a promising environment for investment. Properties in smart-enabled, well-connected neighborhoods are increasingly in demand, benefiting from enhanced infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and lifestyle conveniences driven by digital innovation.