Key Takeaways
- Saudi Arabia made significant strides in the IMD Smart City Index 2026, with Riyadh climbing to 24th place and eight cities ranking overall.
- Cities like Makkah, Jeddah, Madinah, and Al Khobar also showed strong performances, reflecting improvements in digital services.
- The index measures how effectively cities utilize technology to enhance citizens’ lives, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s investments in smart city initiatives tied to Vision 2030.
- Emerging cities like AlUla and Hail are showing remarkable progress, indicating that smart development is spreading beyond major urban centers.
- Overall, these rankings indicate Saudi Arabia’s commitment to building smarter, more connected cities and strengthening its global position.
Saudi Arabia is making steady progress in its digital transformation, and it shows in the IMD Smart City Index 2026. Riyadh has climbed to 24th place globally, leading a total of eight Saudi cities that made it onto the list this year.
Saudi Cities Show Strong Performance in Global Rankings
Saudi Arabia’s presence in the rankings is hard to miss. With eight cities included, the country is clearly advancing in urban technology and infrastructure. Riyadh stands out, moving up from 27th to 24th place.
Other major cities also performed well. Makkah ranked 50th, Jeddah 55th, Madinah 67th, and Al Khobar 64th. These results point to steady improvements in digital services and overall quality of life across the country’s key urban centers.
Taken together, the rankings show that Saudi cities are becoming more competitive on the global stage as they continue to adopt smarter technologies.
IMD Smart City Index 2026 and Saudi Arabia’s Progress
The IMD Smart City Index looks at how effectively cities use technology to make everyday life better for residents. It considers factors like public services, digital infrastructure, and how people actually experience living in these cities.
Saudi Arabia’s strong performance reflects years of investment in smart city initiatives tied to Vision 2030. Efforts such as expanding digital services, boosting connectivity, and integrating AI into city systems are starting to pay off.
Declaring 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence also signals how serious the country is about pushing innovation and building smarter urban environments.
IMD Smart City Index 2026 Highlights Emerging Cities
Some of the biggest gains came from emerging cities. AlUla, for example, made a notable jump from 112th to 85th place, driven by rapid development in tourism and infrastructure.
There are also new entrants to the index. Hail debuted at an impressive 33rd, while Hafr Al-Batin landed at 100th out of 148 cities worldwide.
These additions suggest that smart city growth in Saudi Arabia is no longer limited to the largest cities. Smaller and developing areas are starting to catch up.
What This Means for Smart City Development
Overall, the latest rankings point to a bigger shift. Saudi Arabia is moving quickly toward building smarter, more connected, and more sustainable cities.
Ongoing investments in digital infrastructure, AI, and innovation are already improving how people live and interact with their cities. At the same time, these efforts are strengthening the country’s position on the global stage.
Conclusion:
The IMD Smart City Index 2026 reinforces Saudi Arabia’s growing role in urban innovation. With Riyadh leading the way and more cities joining the list, the country is steadily shaping what smart living could look like in the future.
Stay tuned for more updates on technology and smart city trends.