AlUla has delivered a remarkable milestone in global smart city rankings, as the historic destination soared from 112th place in 2025 to 85th globally in the IMD Smart City Index 2026, marking the highest improvement worldwide.
“The top three cities are Zurich, Oslo, and Geneva,” noted the IMD Smart City Index portal, adding, “AlUla climbed 27 places while Washington DC rose by 23. Bordeaux dropped 19 places, as did Lyon, while Ottawa and Shenzhen fell 18 places each.”
Arturo Bris, director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center, emphasized a critical insight, saying, “The most advanced urban centers, where citizens thrive, are not defined by utopian skylines or visible sensors. Instead, they balance technology with human dimensions: quality of life, environmental sustainability, and inclusiveness.”
For AlUla resident Mohammed Helal, this achievement reflects rapid progress. “AlUla’s leap demonstrates the success of development and tourism projects. It cements AlUla’s ambition to become a premier destination for living, working, and visiting,” he said.
Global Recognition Grows
This milestone aligns with the Royal Commission for AlUla’s (RCU) sustainable development goals. Since its establishment, RCU has prioritized infrastructure, services, and quality of life while preserving AlUla’s cultural and natural heritage, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
The 2026 index evaluates cities across quality of life, service efficiency, technology, environmental sustainability, and smart governance. These pillars mirror RCU’s priorities, advanced through public-private partnerships.
In education, RCU launched an integrated system featuring a five-language institute, scholarships for 690+ students, teacher training for 800+ educators, and activities engaging 7,400+ students.
For transport, AlUla International Airport’s expansion doubled passenger capacity to 700,000 annually. The project added passport control lanes, smart technologies, and mobility solutions.
RCU also advanced infrastructure with new power stations, water storage, and public utilities under the “Path to Prosperity” masterplan, elevating quality of life.
Saudi Cities Shine in Global Rankings
Saudi Arabia dominated the 2026 index, with eight cities featured. Riyadh rose to 24th globally, Makkah ranked 50th, Jeddah 55th, Madinah 67th, Alkhobar 64th, and AlUla 85th. Hail debuted at 33rd, while Hafar Al-Batin entered at 100th.
Makkah Mayor Musaed bin Abdulaziz Al-Dawood highlighted the city’s digital transformation. “This ranking reflects Makkah’s qualitative development, supported by leadership directives to enhance its smart destination status,” he stated.
A social media post captured the momentum. “From AlUla’s massive climb to the debut of Hail and Hafar Al-Batin, Saudi cities are getting smarter, faster, and more sustainable every day!” exclaimed Lovin Riyadh on X.
This progress underscores Saudi Vision 2030’s commitment to smart, sustainable cities. With 2026 designated the Year of Artificial Intelligence, the Kingdom continues to redefine global urban excellence.
