Abu Dhabi tops ranking of smart cities in region

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi has been ranked top of a list of cities in Africa and the Middle East in the McKinsey Global Institute study ‘Smart Cities: Digital Solutions for a More Liveable Future’.

The study looked at how cities all over the world use technology to increase the quality of life across a wide range of criteria, including health care, security, mobility, economic development and housing. With a rating of 18.4, Abu Dhabi ranked first in the region. Dubai was placed second with a rating of 17.3.

Covering 50 international cities, the report compared the extent to which the application of technology directly improves a resident’s quality of life. This measure has many dimensions, from clean air to whether citizens feel safe as they walk down the street. For a city to be ‘smart’, it must first demonstrate the presence of a robust structural base and an underlying digital infrastructure, including a network of data-collecting sensors and devices, comprehensive broadband and wireless networks, and platforms on which data can be stored and shared.