Saudi cities in 2026 are witnessing a pivotal moment on the global Smart Cities map, as the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) announced the Smart Cities Index for 2026, with eight Saudi cities standing out as models of innovation and digital transformation in the Kingdom's efforts to achieve Vision 2030. This progress reflects the Kingdom's commitment to developing an advanced urban environment that combines sustainability, quality of life and global competitiveness.

In this context, Riyadh recorded a qualitative leap in the ranking, moving from 27th place globally to 24th, reflecting the rapid development of digital infrastructure and smart services. Makkah ranked 50th and Jeddah ranked 55th, while Medina ranked 67th and Khobar ranked 64th, confirming the balanced spread of smart urban development across the Kingdom.
For the first time, the index included Hail and Hafar Al-Batin Governorate, where Hail ranked 33rd and Hafar Al-Batin ranked 100th out of 148 cities around the world, a clear indication of the diversity and expansion of development projects that include various regions of the Kingdom.
Taif also showed a remarkable performance, rising from 112th to 85th, reflecting the accelerated growth in its development and tourism projects and its commitment to improving the quality of life and enhancing the quality of life in the Kingdom.

The Saudi progress in this index reflects the continued efforts towards building smart cities and sustainable, capable of competing with the best global cities, in conjunction with the Kingdom's celebration of the Year of Artificial Intelligence 2026, which opens wide prospects for enhancing innovation and urbanization at the national level.