Riyadh is the third smartest capital of the Group of Twenty in the IMD index of smart cities .. and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah is the fourth in the Arab world

At an accelerated pace, the city of Riyadh continues to achieve distinguished and qualitative progress in the IMD Smart Cities Index for 2021, which is issued by the International Institute for Management Development, as it jumped 23 ranks from last year to become the third smartest city among the capitals of the G20 countries, and the thirty at the global level, surpassing ancient cities Such as Los Angeles, Madrid, Hong Kong and Paris. Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah was also included in the index as the second Saudi city after Riyadh, as it ranked 73rd in the world and fourth in the Arab world, ahead of ancient historical cities.

This remarkable progress made by the city of Riyadh is the second largest among the G20 countries after the South Korean capital, Seoul, and the third largest in the world, as a result of the great improvements witnessed by the Kingdom's capital in 34 indicators in all fields.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAYA), the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, the Madinah Region Development Authority, and the Quality of Life Program expressed great thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - for his support. God - and His Highness the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - may God protect him - noting the unlimited support of the rational leadership in the digital sector system, thanks to which these leaps were made in the field of digital transformation, data and artificial intelligence in the cities of Riyadh and Medina In order to achieve the well-being of residents and visitors, the two cities adopt the latest technologies and digital solutions, in addition to speed and flexibility in processing digital government transactions and digital identity services, ease of starting new businesses and reducing waiting times, in addition to the contribution of government applications and platforms to ease of access to information and completion of transactions, and the significant role that It was presented in raising health and safety indicators, specifically during the emerging Corona Virus (Covid-19) pandemic.

This achievement confirms the concerted efforts of all sectors of the state in the provision of advanced infrastructure, smart applications, and implementation of development projects. Riyadh and Medina become smart cities that provide their residents and visitors with a high level of luxury and quality of life.

The IMD Smart Cities Index focuses on how residents perceive the scope and impact of efforts to make their cities smart, the extent to which the economic and technical aspects are balanced while not neglecting the human dimensions, and the extent to which they contribute to bridging the gap between the aspirations and needs of the population and political trends in the way smart cities are built.

Smart cities, according to their scientific concept, contribute to the development of many key sectors, such as: the smart transport sector through trip planning software and reservations for public transport systems, and the smart economy based on advanced software that contributes to the development of many sectors such as logistics, delivery and joint support services, in addition to building platforms Interactive with the public to identify their needs and aspirations and interact with them in a transparent manner that puts them at the center of the attention of state agencies, in addition to developing and facilitating the access of services to citizens.

It is noteworthy that the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) is one of the most prestigious institutes of business administration in the world, and an important reference for other international organizations and institutions for competitiveness between countries, and a basic reference for decision-makers around the world to measure the impact of national strategies in enhancing levels of well-being, achieving progress and enhancing the quality of life for peoples. .