What is a smart sustainable city?
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) define a smart sustainable city as an innovative city that uses ICTs and other means to improve quality of life, efficiency of urban operation and services, and competitiveness, while ensuring that it meets the needs of present and future generations with respect to economic, social, environmental as well as cultural aspects.
The World Competitiveness Center (WCC) defines a smart city as one that strikes a good balance between its economic prowess (jobs and business activity included), applied technology, environmental concerns, and inclusiveness.
The World Competitiveness Center (WCC) defines a smart city as one that strikes a good balance between its economic prowess (jobs and business activity included), applied technology, environmental concerns, and inclusiveness.
Smart city index
Dubai was ranked 6th globally and Abu Dhabi was ranked 10th globally in the Smart City Index 2026 (PDF 500KB), published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). Dubai leads the GCC and the Arab region.
Smart sustainable communities in the UAE
Here are some sustainable communities in the UAE:
- Masdar City in Abu Dhabi
- The Sustainable City at various locations in the UAE
- Expo City in Dubai
- Khalid bin Sultan City in Sharjah.
Updated on:
27 Aug 2026
