Just another reason to appreciate Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi has once again secured a place among the world’s leading smart cities, ranking 10th globally in the recent 2026 IMD Smart City Index.
This development may be a slight shift from 5th position last year, but still firmly within the global top tier as competition among cities intensifies.
The index, produced by the World Competitiveness Center, evaluates 148 cities worldwide, blending economic and technological performance with “human dimensions” such as quality of life, environmental priorities, and inclusiveness.
In this latest edition, European cities continued to dominate the global top tier, with Zurich taking the number one spot, followed by Oslo in second place and Geneva rounding out the top three.
Dubai also remained among the world’s top performers, ranking 6th in 2026, down slightly from 4th last year, reinforcing the UAE’s continued strength in smart urban development on the global stage.
Unlike many global rankings, it is driven largely by resident feedback, offering a ground-level view of how people actually experience their cities.
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For Abu Dhabi, the result reflects a city that continues to perform strongly across key fundamentals.
With a population of around 1.6 million, a high Human Development Index of 0.937, a life expectancy of 82.9 years, and strong income levels, the capital remains one of the most stable and high-performing urban environments globally.
Survey responses highlight both satisfaction and evolving priorities. Residents point to affordable housing (75 per cent) as the most urgent concern, followed by employment opportunities, congestion, and education.
At the same time, attitudes toward digital governance remain strongly positive, with over 90 per cent comfortable using face recognition technologies to improve safety, and nearly 89 per cent saying online information has increased their trust in authorities. This signals a population that is digitally engaged and open to smart city tools.
In a rapidly expanding global field, Abu Dhabi’s position reflects not decline, but momentum in a more competitive landscape, with the city continuing to invest in infrastructure, services, and quality of life to meet rising expectations.
Overall, both Abu Dhabi and Dubai underline a clear message: the UAE remains a key player in shaping what future-ready, people-centred smart cities look like.
For further information, visit imd.org
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