The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) announced today that Khobar Governorate has advanced 38 places in the Smart Cities Index for 2025, ranking 61st globally, which reflects a step in the remarkable progress the Kingdom is making in the fields of digital transformation and innovation.
His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, Chairman of the Eastern Province Development Authority (EPDA), said.
His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province and Chairman of the Eastern Province Development Authority, explained that the progress of Khobar Governorate in the Global Smart Cities Index embodies the ambitious vision of the wise leadership - may God protect them - to make the Kingdom's cities advanced urban models at the global level.
His Highness added that this progress is the result of complementary efforts between government and private entities, which seek to achieve a technologically advanced, economically sustainable and attractive environment for investment and knowledge, stressing his full support to continue this path and achieve more successes.
For his part, the CEO of the Eastern Province Development Authority, Eng. Omar bin Saleh Al-Abdullatif, emphasized that this achievement reflects the development witnessed by the Kingdom in various fields, with the support of the wise leadership, and confirms its commitment to achieving a sustainable urban environment that attracts global talents and investments.
He pointed out that Khobar Governorate's progress in the Smart Cities Index is evidence of its attractive environment for talent and experts, its environmental diversity, and the efficiency of its basic and digital infrastructure, which enhances its position as an investment and innovation center, adding that its geographical location near the GCC countries, its embrace of research and innovation centers, and its educational outputs made it eligible to attract smart projects of a future nature.
He pointed out that this progress is a testament to its geographical location near the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, its embrace of research and innovation centers, and its educational outputs, making it eligible to attract future-oriented and smart projects of a futuristic nature.
<He added that this progress reflects the continuous efforts in developing infrastructure and applying modern technologies in multiple fields such as: Health, education, transportation, culture and governance, which makes Al Khobar a more interactive and responsive city to the needs of citizens and residents, and the city is a living model in implementing modern technological experiments on the ground, in support of sustainable development strategies.
This achievement comes as a confirmation that Al Khobar is ready to attract smart projects of a futuristic nature. This achievement confirms the advanced position occupied by Al Khobar governorate in the fields of smart urban planning and promoting sustainable development, as it was included in the International Institute for Management Development (IMD)'s Smart Cities periodical book and reflects Al Khobar's leading role in innovation and the efficiency of its digital infrastructure, within the framework of achieving one of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 that three Saudi cities Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar be among the top 100 global cities in the Global Liveability Index (EIU).
This achievement comes in confirmation of the advanced position occupied by Al Khobar governorate in the fields of smart urban planning and promoting sustainable development.
