The UAE has just been ranked the 12th most competitive country in the world by the World Economic Forum. Within this, the country ranked even higher for infrastructure and government procurement of advanced technology (in third spot), for attracting professional talent (also a third ranking) and scored well for technological readiness.

These scores are from a list of 144 countries and, combined with its pre-eminence in the WEF’s Networked Readiness Index score (24), this reflects the fact that the building blocks are in place to make Dubai’s ambitions — to be the world’s smartest city — a reality.

There is a major transformation of the urban landscape taking place across the world, today. More than half of the world’s population now lives in cities, which cover only a tiny portion of the planet’s surface area. But they consume more than three-quarters of all energy produced and are responsible for 80 per cent of carbon dioxide (CO²) emissions, according to the United Nations (UN).

And this phenomenon of urban densification is accelerating. The UN estimates predict that there will be another two billion people on the planet by 2050 and that 70 per cent of the world’s population will be living in cities.

These are some of the considerations that will be raised at the Smart Living City Dubai 2014 event this month, in which experts will discuss how to achieve Dubai’s stated aim of becoming the world’s smartest city — a challenge for any city but one which Dubai is well positioned to overcome.

‘Smarting up’ a city is a challenge for the local municipal authorities but the key is to put technology at the heart of city and community development. In ‘Smart Cities’, digital technology is integrated into traditional city services (water, electricity, gas, public transport and amenities, buildings, etc.). It contributes to sustainable development, helps to improve residents’ quality of life, and plays a role in the growth of businesses and the area’s appeal for economic and tourist activities.

This all plays to Dubai’s existing strengths. Equally important is the availability of the technology with which to build the network foundation of the smart city — information as the fourth utility — and the tools to create and deliver the services. Dubai’s ability to develop expertise in this technology area could position the emirate strongly, in terms of marketable global know-how.

According to ABI Research, the market for technologies that contribute to and support the plans and programmes of smart cities should reach $39 billion (Dh143.2 billion) in 2016 ($10 billion in 2010). Various studies have come to the same conclusion — smart cities have a bright future and so has Dubai within this sector.

Local authorities are well aware of the value of new technologies for the effective and sustainable development of the different types of services they offer. Digital technology is increasingly being used for traditional city services, such as public transport, travel (carpooling and sharing), road maintenance, traffic, parking, energy, waste disposal, street lighting and urban furniture. Technologies also play an essential role in building relations with the local population, encouraging tourism and culture and developing the area’s appeal for businesses, companies and shops.

Developing smart services for the community means optimising the flow and making smart use of information. In other words, telecommunications networks are one of the building blocks for the development of smart digital services.

Smart city technology provides the optimised exchange and smart use of information for local authorities in the economic development of their communities, bringing every individual and business the best technologies and services and help to increase usage in a shifting technological environment.

Dubai is ahead of the game and is set to achieve its smart city milestone.

— The writer is Managing Director of Orange Business Arabia.