In 2023, the Saudi Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Haqil, announced the inclusion of four Saudi cities in the Smart Cities Index.
The ministry aims to rank at least 10 Saudi cities among the top 50 global cities. This ambition is driven by governance, sustainability, and resident engagement to fulfill their aspirations and enhance their welfare.
Vision for Future Municipalities
During his speech at the Global Forum for Smart Cities, hosted by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) in Riyadh from February 12 to 13, 2024, Al-Haqil shared insights. He emphasized the Kingdom’s journey of innovation and collaboration, inspired by the Crown Prince’s Vision 2030.
This vision leverages national capabilities to positively impact the entire region and elevate urban and housing systems through unique experiences and models.
Smart Cities: Beyond Technology
Al-Haqil highlighted that smart cities transcend technological urban areas. They require ecosystems integrating municipal services, transportation, education, health, tourism, and more. This approach aims to improve residents’ life quality significantly.
Strategy for Urban Growth
The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 sets the trajectory for this transformation. Strategies focus on portraying cities as vibrant, sustainable development and technology centers. The goal is for residents to live fulfilling lives, enhancing achievement and well-being.
Innovations and Solutions
Efforts to address challenges have led to innovations, such as a waste management solution in Jeddah using IoT technology, reducing waste-related violations by 25%. In Dammam, an application manages over 20,000 parking spots, easing access to busy areas. Furthermore, “Municipal Lens” is being used to inspect 270,000 km of roads, automatically identifying damages or pollution, which improves the urban landscape and residents’ quality of life.
Engagement and Innovation
Al-Haqil stressed the importance of continuing to offer innovative solutions. The ministry targets resident welfare by establishing smart cities and municipalities. The “My Municipality” app, praised globally at the United Nations, allows users to manage municipal licenses, request services, and enhance the urban landscape.
An experimental feature, “My Municipality Map & Navigation,” provides high-precision data on businesses, events, road conditions, speed alerts, weather, and more.
Future Developments
In conclusion, Al-Haqil reaffirmed the commitment to developing national applications and models, including “Digital Twin.” By 2025, this will enable simulation of urban policies, emergency and disaster planning, and foster collaborative city design among authorities and residents.
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