Eight Saudi Cities Rank Among the World’s Smartest in 2026

With several of its cities prominently featured in the IMD Smart Cities Index 2026, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has reached yet another milestone, adding to its list of achievements. This is in line with Vision 2030’s objectives and shows a definite acceleration of development and increased quality of life.

In this post, we will look at the Saudi cities that have attained a global smart presence according to the 2026 IMD Smart Cities Index, emphasising their strengths and unique features. For more information, continue reading Smart Cities Index 2026 Criteria.

Smart Cities Index 2026 Criteria

According to residents’ assessments of how well their cities meet their needs in accordance with smart development and modernisation, as well as enhancing and facilitating the quality of life, the Smart Cities Index 2026 criteria centre on striking a good balance between the elements of their economic strength and contemporary technology, as well as promoting environmental sustainability.

Eight Saudi cities have been able to mimic these criteria, resulting in their prominent presence in the worldwide index list, which comprises 148 centres, as we indicate below:

Riyadh Advances

Riyadh has made great progress, moving up three spots from 27th to 24th. Its rapid economic and environmental development, as well as its astute transformation aimed at raising the standard of living for its people, propel this advancement.

With a strong smart infrastructure, Riyadh is also regarded as a hub for digital transformation and the uptake of contemporary technologies. The growth of smart city initiatives and integrated government services complements this, guaranteeing a smooth experience for recipients and raising the standard of local performance.

In a similar development, the Riyadh Municipality received a score of 93.70% on the Digital Transformation Index 2025, placing it sixth among the most innovative government bodies. This reflects the Municipality’s strategic actions in launching its integrated digital strategy, which is closely aligned with Vision 2030.

Makkah

Makkah ranks 50th on the Smart Cities Index for 2026. Over the past ten years, the city’s economy has grown remarkably thanks to large-scale construction initiatives that highlight its reputation as a popular Islamic urban destination worldwide. By expanding and strengthening its infrastructure, raising living standards, and encouraging investment, these projects exemplify Vision 2030’s goals.

The region is also seeing mega-projects in transit, neighbourhood development, and other infrastructure enhancements, with budgets estimated in the billions of riyals. These projects aim to make Makkah a key hub for numerous logistical, religious, cultural, and tourism sectors. According to projections, the population could reach 10 million by 2030.

Jeddah

Jeddah ranks 55th on the 2026 Smart Cities Index, thanks to its commitment to global standards for increasing the quality of life. The Jeddah Municipality has made tremendous progress in improving its urban landscape, completing many big projects, most notably waterfront developments that seamlessly integrate the sea into its citizens’ daily lives.

Service facilities, kid-friendly play areas, bike and walking routes, art installations, marine platforms, and other urban waterfront elements are all part of these urban development projects. Regular beach maintenance initiatives also guarantee cleanliness and promote awareness of the value of protecting natural resources.

Madinah

Madinah comes in 67th in the worldwide ranking, thanks to the expansion of its local economy, the development of its commercial infrastructure, the establishment of a mature business climate, and the rise of its consumer base. This indicates its tremendous investment potential, which has attracted investors from a variety of economic sectors.

The year-round expansion of its commercial and tourism activities, as well as the rising sales volume, which indicates a quickly flourishing local economy, further highlights the robustness of its economy. Because of this, it is among the most appealing Saudi cities for both domestic and foreign visitors and investors.

Al-Khobar

Al-Khobar ranks 64th, demonstrating that it is among the top smart cities to enhance and facilitate the lives of its residents. This is demonstrated by the outstanding advancements it has made in several areas, most notably infrastructure modernisation.

This attracts a lot of investors and adds to the number of its projects and establishments, demonstrating its significance as a key hub for business and investment.

A Qualitative Leap for Al-Ula

Al-Ula has moved up from 112th to 85th rank, marking a major milestone. This is a clear indication of how quickly development initiatives are moving forward in several industries, including infrastructure and tourism. The Kingdom’s ambitious intentions to turn Al-Ula into a smart heritage destination that promotes both tourism and culture have drawn significant government attention to the area.

In terms of accomplishments, the city has made impressive strides in safeguarding and preserving archaeological sites through the use of technology and artificial intelligence. Additionally, it has satisfied the requirements of the Global Smart Cities Index, which evaluates locals’ opinions, the compatibility of technology and economic objectives with human needs, and the effective use of space to both protect the environment and satisfy inhabitants’ demands.

Read more: Five SAR Routes Powering Vision 2030 Goals

Hail

The city of Hail broke all previous records when it ranked 33rd in the Global Smart Cities Index for the first time. Its outstanding advancements in quality of life, education, and digital services metrics, which provide worldwide proof of the effectiveness of balanced development strategies at the regional level, are the driving forces behind this ranking.

In addition to offering excellent economic prospects and the health and safety sector, Hail’s progress also shows its quick development in many crucial sectors, including transportation and digital governance, striking a real balance between its digital services and its urban growth.

Read more: Riyadh’s Most Renowned Sweet Stores During Ramadan

Hafar Al-Batin

With its first-ever position of 100th in the 2026 Smart Cities Index, the Saudi city of Hafar Al-Batin has established an impressive worldwide footprint. According to its citizens, the city’s efforts to enhance and increase the quality of life in a way that achieves both sustainability and efficiency, as well as its quick adoption of smart city standards, are what have led to this accomplishment.

In keeping with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, it seems that Saudi Arabia’s urban development is advancing dramatically in tandem with technological innovation to enhance and facilitate the quality of life by offering a variety of services to inhabitants.

This rating demonstrates that the Kingdom’s urban environment is changing qualitatively, with Riyadh leading the way as a major hub and Hail coming in second as a prime example of regional cities that are converting technology into an observable quality of life.

Read more: Saudi Cafés Offer a Peek of Authenticity & Modernism