Prelims

Half Title Page

The Emerald Handbook of Smart Cities in the Gulf Region

Title Page

The Emerald Handbook of Smart Cities in the Gulf Region: Innovation, Development, Transformation, and Prosperity for Vision 2040

EDITED BY

MILTIADIS D. LYTRAS

Effat University, Saudi Arabia

AFNAN ALKHALDI

Arab Open University, Kuwait

AND

SAWSAN MALIK

Arab Open University, Kuwait

United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India – Malaysia – China

Copyright Page

Emerald Publishing Limited

Emerald Publishing, Floor 5, Northspring, 21-23 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL.

First edition 2025

Editorial matter and selection © 2025 Miltiadis D. Lytras, Afnan Alkhaldi, and Sawsan Malik.

Individual chapters © 2025 The authors.

Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited.

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Contact: www.copyright.com

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying issued in the UK by The Copyright Licensing Agency and in the USA by The Copyright Clearance Center. Any opinions expressed in the chapters are those of the authors. Whilst Emerald makes every effort to ensure the quality and accuracy of its content, Emerald makes no representation implied or otherwise, as to the chapters’ suitability and application and disclaims any warranties, express or implied, to their use.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-1-83608-293-4 (Print)

ISBN: 978-1-83608-292-7 (Online)

ISBN: 978-1-83608-294-1 (Epub)

Dedication Page

We dedicate this book to the citizens of all ages, with the hope that the added value of smart cities will significantly enhance their quality of life and well-being. May these innovations foster a world where cultures are connected and leveraged for the happiness and prosperity of all.

Miltiadis, Afnan, and Sawsan

Contents

About the Editors

Dr Miltiadis D. Lytras is a world-class expert in advanced computer science and management, an Editor, Lecturer, and Research Consultant with extensive experience in academia and the business sector in Europe and Asia. Dr Lytras is a Visiting Scholar at Effat University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His research focuses on smart cities strategies, cognitive computing, information systems, technology-enabled innovation, and knowledge management. Dr Lytras has co-authored more than 120 high-impact papers in Q1 and Q2 Web of Science and Scopus-indexed journals and has co-edited more than 80 books with international publishers. Dr Lytras’s research promotes the utilization of the intersection of computer science and business research toward the promotion of sustainable development goals.

Dr. Afnan Alkhaldi is the Dean Assistant at the Arab Open University, Kuwait branch. She has a leading expert in smart cities, information systems, and e-Governance. Her research interests revolve around these areas, focusing on innovation, efficiency, and results-oriented approaches. She recently served as a consultant for the Al-Hareer Smart City project in Kuwait, where her expertise significantly enhanced economic development and urban planning. In her current role at the university, Dr. Afnan continues to contribute to shaping sustainable urban futures.

Dr Sawsan Malik is an Assistant Professor at the Arab-Open University, Kuwait branch, specializing in Smart City Management, gig and circular economies, eco-innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainable development, the informal economy, e-government, and digital transformation. She focuses on qualitative research methods, including grounded theory and ethnography. Malik serves as a peer reviewer for several notable journals in entrepreneurship, management, hospitality, and social sciences.

About the Contributors

Dr Ahmed Abdelkader has developed a solid and diverse track record of expertise and skillset. After obtaining his PhD in Marketing Management from the University of Huddersfield, GB, he has served as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Full Professor in universities in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. He has over 20 years of academic and industry experience in regional and international enterprises in addition to research publications in indexed international journals.

Oualid Abidi is an Associate Professor of Business at The Australian University – Kuwait since February 2021. He cumulated over 15 years of teaching experience in Kuwait and Canada. Oualid Abidi received his PhD in administrative sciences from Université Laval (Canada) in 2011. He also holds a Master’s degree in Project Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. Oualid Abidi has eclectic research interests in the fields of entrepreneurship, international business, human resource management, and higher education.

Ahmed Aboualam is an Assistant Professor of Business and Management with academic experience at the university level at different academic institutions in the Middle East coupled with Doctorate, Master and Bachelor in Commerce and Business Administration. Research interests in Business Models, Sustainability, Business Technology and Social Entrepreneurship. Memberships: The International Business and Economic Research Academy – Asian Council of Leaders, Administrators, Deans, and Educators in Business -Arab Business Administration Association.

Alice AlAkoum, PhD Student, Lecturer, an accomplished Lecturer at the Arab Open University’s Deanship of Business Studies in Ardiya, Kuwait, and a diligent PhD candidate in Business Studies with a focus on Human Resources at Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania, stands out for her rich academic background. Holding a master’s in business administration and a License in Law, Alice has cultivated a rich educational background. Her tenure at the Arab Open University has been marked by significant contributions to program development, execution, and evaluation, alongside assisting in strategic HR strategies and risk management studies. Alice engages in research that bridges theoretical knowledge with practical application in human resources, aiming to enhance organizational effectiveness and employee well-being. Her career is distinguished by a commitment to excellence, both in academia and in various professional roles that have leveraged her strong negotiation skills, ability to work under pressure, and capacity for building professional relationships.

Rashed Alhaimer holds a PhD in Electronic Marketing from Brunel University, a Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s In Management Information Systems. Currently, Rashed Alhaimer works as the Local Dean of Business faculty and Associate Professor at the Arab Open University – Kuwait. Previous work experience includes administrative roles at the SME Support Department. Rashed Alhaimer has a robust publication record, with recent focuses on corruption, virtual political campaigns, public health messages, genders’ role in enterprise performance, social media’s impact on innovation and performance, and online shopping behaviors during emergencies.

Dr Salah Alhammadi is an Assistant Professor in Economics and Finance at Arab Open University. He previously contributed to Islamic Economics and Finance education at ALM College Dundee and Durham University Business School. Dr Alhammadi is known for his research presentations at prestigious venues and publications in notable journals, earning him several best paper awards. An experienced PhD examiner and quality assurance evaluator, he holds fellowships with the Royal Society of Arts and the Higher Education Academy, along with academic certifications from Durham University. He also serves as a peer reviewer for top-tier ABS journals.

Munther Abbas Alkandari is the X-Director of the Higher Institute of Telecommunication and Navigation as well as the X-Director of the Nursing Institute in the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training. Alkandari holds Master’s degree in Maritime Transport technology, Bachelor’s degree in high seas navigation, High Diplomas in education as well as in Management, the author of the first book in the Arab world in the field of maritime business administration.

Dr Jarrah Fahad Al-Mansour is currently an Acting Dean for the Faculty of Business Studies, Arab Open University. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Management Information System from Kuwait University, Kuwait. His Master’s degree was in E-Commerce management from the University of Kent, United Kingdom, and his PhD from the Department of Marketing and Strategy at De Montfort University, United Kingdom in 2018. He has extensive research interests in public sector organizations, strategy process, knowledge sharing and strategy practices, social networking, digital strategy, and organizational practices. His current research interests include strategy transition process and organizational practices, knowledge sharing and social change, social practice theory, and dynamics of strategy formulation and implementation. In particular, my recent research concerns the practices of social actors in management and the consequent innovation.

Anmar AlObaidi, an Engineer at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Engineering Management. In his role as an Inspection Engineer, Anmar diligently ensures the quality and safety compliance of transportation infrastructure projects, showcasing expertise in team strategy management, utility inspections, traffic simulation, and consultancy over a three-year career. His versatile skill set spans infrastructure project management, final clearance certificate issuance, and significant contributions to digital transformation initiatives. Anmar has played a pivotal role in executing various Utilities Projects since July 2022, focusing on regulatory compliance oversight and navigating complex bureaucratic processes seamlessly. His responsibilities include collaborating with various departments for final clearance certificates, expediting NOC approval processes, and addressing project-related concerns. Anmar’s meticulous project management, keen attention to detail, and commitment to safety and quality assurance contribute to the enhancement of transportation infrastructure and community safety. His oversight of electricity authority and water transmission lines projects ensures compliance with safety and quality standards in electrical distribution and water supply and distribution, respectively. Additionally, Anmar monitors and coordinates Dubai infrastructure projects to enhance public spaces while adhering to design and environmental guidelines.

Azzan Majid Al-Shukaili is a Research Assistant in construction management and smart cities in Middle East College, Oman. He participated in national research projects. The areas of his research include green technology, landscape of infrastructure, and the usability of urban spaces.

Dr Perfecto Gatbonton Aquino, Jr is a former Director of the Council for Research and Creativity/Institute for Research and Advanced Studies at the University of Cambodia, Cambodia. He was a former Research Associate cum Senior Lecturer at Duy Tan University, Vietnam. Dr Aquino graduated his PhD in Public Administration and Management at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas de Manila Philippines in 2001. He has published several articles and books which were duly indexed in the Scopus database.

Dr Ahmed Badran is an Associate Professor of Public Policy at Department of International Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University. Dr Badran holds a PhD degree in Public Policy from the University of Exeter, the United Kingdom. Dr Badran’s research interests extend to cover different areas of the regulatory governance and politics of regulation in liberalized public utilities. That includes telecoms, water, and energy sectors particularly in transition and developing economies.

Valentina Emilia Balas is Professor Habil at the Faculty of Engineering, “Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad, Romania. She holds a PhD Cum Laude in Applied Electronics and Telecommunications from Polytechnic University of Timisoara. Dr Balas is the head of Intelligent Systems Research Centre and Director of the Department of International Relations, in Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad. Dr Balas is the author of more than 400 research papers, edited and co-authored more than 100 books in Elsevier, Springer, CRC Press where she is responsible for some book series. Her research interests are in Intelligent Systems, Fuzzy Control, Soft Computing, and Smart Sensors. She is the Editor-in Chief to IJAIP and IJCSysE journals in Inderscience, member in Editorial Board of several journals, evaluator for projects and PhD thesis. She is recipient of the “Tudor Tanasescu” Prize from the Romanian Academy (2019) and “Stefan Odobleja” Prize from Romanian Academy of Scientists (2023).

Gabriel Osório de Barros holds a Graduate degree in Economics, a Postgraduate degree in Public Sector Management from the University of Évora, a Master’s degree in Financial Management from the University of Extremadura, a Master’s degree in Management from Lusíada University, and a Master’s degree in Economics and Public Policies from ISCTE. He has completed several advanced courses in Public Management, including the Advanced Course in Public Management (CAGEP), the Public Management Training Course (FORGEP), and the Diploma of Advanced Studies in Public Policy (academic part of the PhD in Public Policy). He is currently Director/Head of Economic Analysis in the Office for Strategy and Studies (GEE) of the Portuguese Ministry of Economy and Maritime Affairs.

Dr Neilson D. Bation is a distinguished figure with expertise in academia, research, statistics, and business. He holds esteemed fellowships with the Royal Institute of Management and the Royal Institute of Research in Singapore. Dr Bation is internationally acclaimed for his leadership in statistics and business research, receiving awards like the Most Outstanding Research Consultant at ETCOR Research Education Center. He currently serves as the Vice President for Research and Extension at Opol Community College and holds CEO positions at Digital Institute Training and Development Services and JHEk Upholstery Services. His career includes roles in cooperatives and healthcare service organizations, making substantial contributions to their growth. Dr Bation actively engages in research, presenting papers at conferences and publishing in both local and international journals, reflecting his dedication to academia, research, and entrepreneurship.

Prof Mohammed Ali Berawi is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure Development (CSID) Universitas Indonesia and Director of ASEAN University Network for Sustainable City and Urban Development (AUN-SCUD). He also serves as the Working Group Leader for Smart Cities at the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Sustainable Cities and Landscapes (SCL). He is the Chairman of the Indonesian Lecturers Association (ADI) for 2022–2027 and the Advisory Board Chairman of the Science and Technology Professional Organization Forum (FOPI) for 2023–2026. Stanford University listed Prof Ali Berawi as one of the World’s top 2% scientists (2021–2023). Prof Berawi previously served as the Member Secretary of the Republic of Indonesia’s Presidential Advisory Council in 2020–2022. He is the Deputy for Green and Digital Transformation of Indonesia’s Nusantara Capital City Authority (NCCA).

Assist. Prof. Dr. Ayat-Alah Bouramdane: Graduated from the International University of Rabat (IUR) as an Energy Engineer (with an exchange program at EEIGM, ENSEM, and FST of Lorraine University in Nancy), École Polytechnique (l’X) with a master’s thesis conducted at Centrale Supélec-Université Paris Saclay-Sorbonne Université (GeePs lab), and from Institut Polytechnique de Paris (IP Paris) (LMD lab-l’X, IPSL), Ayat-Allah focuses on modeling and optimizing energy systems (renewables, storage, and spatio-temporal complementarities) in actual and future climate impacted by climate change scenarios. Her thesis was conducted in the framework of the creation of the Energy4Climate Interdisciplinary Center (E4C) of IP Paris and Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, supported by MED-OCEAN. Ayat-Allah is currently an assistant professor at the IUR (a researcher at the LERMA lab - a lecturer at the College E&A). Her research also focuses on resource management and hydrogen, based on a holistic approach that integrates technical, economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Her research has yielded peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. For more information, visit: https://sites.google.com/view/ayat-allahbouramdane.

Davide Calandra, Assistant Professor in Business Administration and Accounting at the University of Torino – Department of Management. Co-lecturer in the PhD Program in Torino and didactic programs in several institutions such as Wroclaw University of Business and Economics, University of Palermo, and the University of Torino. His research interests cover new technology applications in accounting, auditing, and accountability, and the application and management of new technologies in smart cities, such as blockchain and artificial intelligence. Finally, he also deals with the Islamic economy and finance field.

Suwithda Charungkaittikul is an International Professor in the Non-Formal Education Division of the Department of Lifelong Education at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. She also holds a Doctorate in Non-Formal Education from Chulalongkorn University. From 2010 to 2011, she was a Research Fellow in the Andragogy Doctoral Emphasis Specialty Instructional Leadership Program at Lindenwood University, MO, USA, where she completed her Post-Doctoral Training in Education Andragogy and Learning Society Development.

Xi Chen, PhD, is a distinguished machine learning professional with a robust background in software engineering, computational biology, and data science. With extensive experience at Meta, Dr Chen has led the development of simulation applications and has been instrumental in advancing ML/DL applications, synthetic data generation, and user data integrity. At Juvena Therapeutics, Dr Chen harnessed machine learning for biomarker suggestions and therapeutic target predictions, leading a dedicated team. His tenure at Verb Surgical was marked by significant contributions to surgical analytics software, where he dramatically improved model performance. As a Deep Learning Institute Certified Instructor at Nvidia, Dr Chen has educated developers and data scientists on artificial intelligence and GPU-accelerated computing, shaping the future of technology across various domains. Dr Chen’s academic pursuits at the University of Kentucky resulted in groundbreaking research in Protein NMR, culminating in a PhD in Bioinformatics and a Master’s certification in Statistics. Now, as a Machine Learning Faculty member at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Dr Chen brings his wealth of knowledge and experience to shape the next generation of innovators in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. His work continues to be at the intersection of academia and industry, driving forward the capabilities of machine learning technologies.

Anita Rani Chopra is a PhD in Education Management, focusing on core skills as an academician, including ensuring program and course curricula are current, relevant, and reflective of best practices within a professional/program discipline. She is an expert in designing, evaluating, and validating learning outcomes for courses and programs. Her strengths include creating learning environments that accommodate students’ cultural diversity, education needs, experiential learning, and applying knowledge to professional life. Her core strength is designing appropriate strategies and methods for facilitating and assessing student learning that is invitational and reflective of best practices in teaching. Her expertise is producing multi-media materials, alternative delivery strategies, and incorporating various educational technologies. She has written many papers and book chapters reflecting her contribution to students’ and adults’ learning.

Ashok Chopra is a highly skilled, accomplished, and experienced Senior Academician with strong learning acumen in teaching, training, and development. He is a Registrar, Program Chair for the Ph.D. program, Member of the Research Committee at Amity University Dubai, and Associate Professor at Amity Business School. He has shown research success with multiple published articles/papers, books, and chapters. An expert in creating compelling environments for applied learning, accommodating students’/trainees’ diverse cultural and educational backgrounds, experiences, and individual learning styles. Ashok has over 24 years of international industry experience in senior and leadership positions, over 10 years of entrepreneurial experience, and more than 13 years of experience as an academician and corporate trainer – a perfect blend of academia, industry, and entrepreneurship.

Ravee Chudasring is an Assistant Professor in the Non-Formal Education Division of the Department of Lifelong Education at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. He also holds a doctorate in Non-Formal Education from Chulalongkorn University. His recent published works related to his research interests focused on aging population, social well-being, and community development.

Namho Chung is a Dean and Professor of the College of Hotel and Tourism Management, and the Director of Smart Tourism Research Center (STRC) at Kyung Hee University, Republic of Korea. Also, He is a Co-Editors-in-Chief of Journal of Smart Tourism. He had been a Visiting Research Fellow at School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey in Guildford, UK. Currently, he leads smart tourism projects in the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea over 10 years. His name is listed in the Hall of Fame at Kyung Hee University for his outstanding achievements.

Dr Edwin C. Du is currently Dean of Graduate School of Capitol University, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. He completed the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management at Capitol University. For his master’s degrees, he finished Master of Public Administration at Ateneo de Cagayan Xavier University and Master in Political Science at the University of San Carlos. He also graduated from Silliman University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He has presented research papers at the International Conferences of the Korean Association for Public Administration (KAPA), Philippine Society for Public Administration (PSPA), Public Administration Association of Thailand (PAAT), Korean Association of Policy Studies (KAPS), the Asian Association for Public Administration (AAPA) and the Taiwan Association for Schools of Public Administration and Affairs (TASPAA). Dr Du is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Educators, Singapore and an Associate Member of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP).

Dr Taleb Eissa, Assistant Professor at Department of Civil Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, Florida, USA. His research interests and teaching are in the areas of transportation planning, transportation econometric modeling, freight mode choice, accident and safety analysis, urban transportation, and transport policy. Dr Taleb is also a Fellow of the Florida Board of Professional Engineers (PE), the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the Transportation Research Board (TRB), and he got the Outstanding Student of the Year Award for 2019 (Florida Institute of Technology).

Zhengchao Fu graduated in Architecture and Civil Engineering at Wuyi University, currently a PhD student in the Heritage and Conservation of School of Housing, Building and Planning at Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. His areas of scholarly interests revolve around heritage conservation, heritage education, Overseas Chinese history, new museology, and community-based studies.

Dr Zeinab Gamal is Assistant Professor in Marketing at the Higher Institute of Computer and Business Administration & Onaizah Colleges, Saudi Arabia. Gamal holds PhD in Digital Marketing and MSc in Marketing (Innovation in SMEs). Participated in conducting marketing research and management training for many Egyptian and Arab companies by the Arab Bureau for Creativity & Development (ABCD). Gamal’s research interests include sustainability, digital marketing, online customer experience, organizational ambidexterity, market orientation, firm growth, and SMEs.

Prisilla Jayanthi Gandam received her BE (CSE) from MVSR Engineering College, Osmania University, Hyderabad in 1993 and her M.Tech Degree in CN&IS from HITS College of Engineering, JNTUH in 2012. She presented her research papers at various national and international conferences (aboard). She has published over 80+ papers including 16 book chapters. She has received “Women Researcher Award” from International Scientist Awards (2022). She is an assistant professor at CMR Institute of Technology, Hyderabad. Prior to this organization, she worked as Faculty Associate at Mahindra University, Hyderabad from 2022 to 2023.

Dr Omer Hag Hamid is an Assistant Professor at the Arab Open University-Bahrain, a Senior Fellowship (SFHEA-UK), specializing in Economics, and Innovation & Technology Management. He holds a PhD in Economics from the OIU, and a candidate for a second Ph.D. in Innovation and Technology Management from the UNIKL, with a MSc (OIU) and BSc in Economics from the U of K. Dr Hamid is a renowned researcher in fintech and digital solutions in finance, with a focus on the impact of technology on financial services. His work has been published in prestigious journals, and he is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars. Dr Hamid is also certified by (INQAAHE), reflecting his commitment to quality education.

Dr Hend Sameh Hafez Hassan is an Assistant Professor at the Arab-Open University – Kuwait branch. She is also an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Commerce – Mansoura University, Egypt. She started her postgraduate studies at Cranfield University, United Kingdom in June 2007. She obtained her MPhil in the summer of 2008 before completing the programme of study in July 2011 and obtaining a PhD in Electronic Management following a programme of study that was applied to the Egyptian E-Government. Her main research interests are Experiential Marketing Dynamics, E- Customer Relationship Management, E-services, Digital Marketing, Brand Management, and Entrepreneurship.

Yingyilong Hu graduated in Adult Education and Community Development at the University of Toronto, currently a PhD Candidate in the Non-Formal Education Division of the Department of Lifelong Education at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. His areas of scholarly interests revolve around lifelong education, heritage education, sustainable tourism, community-based studies, and placemaking.

Hamed M. Hussain – achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management at Abu Dhabi University, currently a PhD student in Chemical Engineering at United Arab Emirates University focusing on sustainability projects such as solar power, water desalination, and hydrogen production. Areas of previous publications revolve around PV panel utilizations and social acceptance in the GCC region.

Prof Dr Muralikrishna Iyyanki, received his PhD from the Premier Institute – Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, was Dr Raja Ramanna Distinguished Fellow at Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), India, and the National Coordinator for Geospatial Public Health, which is National Networking Government of India Project. He was the Editor and Member of the editorial board of several S&T Journals. His present research focuses are on open innovation, artificial intelligence and geospatial data analytics and geospatial population and public health management. He was the Professor and Founder Head of the Centre for Spatial Information Technology (CSIT) at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (1990–2005), and Director of Research and Development Centre (2005–2008). He has served as a guest scientist at the German Space Research Institute (DLR) and GKSS Research Centre.

Dr Revenio C. Jalagat, Jr is presently employed in Al-Zahra College for Women as Associate Professor for almost 11 years. He taught at Gulf College as a Business Lecturer from 2011 to 2013. Prior to that, he had worked in various disciplines in both the academic and business industry with almost 9 years of accumulated experience in the Philippines acting as Accountant, Chief Account, Finance Manager, Assistant Professor, and Professor. In 2023, he received an award as among the Top 50 Outstanding Philippine Awardee in the field of Research and Publication and Distinguished Researcher in his institution. He has published articles, edited books, and chapters indexed in Scopus and Web of Science indexes and served as an Editorial Member and Reviewer in various international refereed journals in the field of business management. He was also awarded in 2021 the Certified Business Management Educator by the Chartered Association of Business Schools in the UK.

Kevin A. Jones teaches Software Engineering at Singapore Institute of Technology. He has 40 years of experience as a Canadian Signals Officer, IBM Consultant, and Academic. His research interests are instructional design, scholarship of teaching and learning, and learning motivation. He received his PhD in Educational Systems and Technology from the Nanyang Technological University in 2018.

Khider Hamid Khider from Sudan living in Kuwait and working at Arab Open University for 18 years working as Lecturer at Business Studies Faculty. Khider interest areas of study and research innovation are entrepreneurship and sustainable development. Khider has published articles one about knowledge-based economy in Gulf region, and the second one about “Explaining and Predicting of Business Students’ Continuance Usage of E-Learning: Direct and Mediating Process Model-Extending Technology Acceptance Mode.” Khider would like to continue in the field of sustainable development, and how could affect the life of human beings. The world today moving to digital platform and innovation also this area is interested area for research which Khider would like to approach. Khider had good experiences in the field of training and development as Khider participate in number of workshops and training session in local organization in state of Kuwait.

Dr Utku Kose received the BS degree in 2008 in Computer Education of Gazi University, Turkey as a faculty valedictorian. He received MS degree in 2010 from Afyon Kocatepe University, Turkey in the field of computer and DS/PhD degree in 2017 from Selcuk University, Turkey in the field of Computer Engineering. Between 2009 and 2011, he worked as a Research Assistant at Afyon Kocatepe University. Following, he has also worked as a Lecturer and Vocational School – Vice Director at Afyon Kocatepe University between 2011 and 2012, as a Lecturer and Research Center Director in Usak University between 2012 and 2017, and as an Assistant Professor in Suleyman Demirel University between 2017 and 2019. Currently, he is an Associate Professor in Suleyman Demirel University, Turkey. Kose also gave lectures at other higher education institutions such as Gazi University and Istanbul Arel University. He also works as a Visiting Researcher at the University of North Dakota, USA, and holds the Honorary Professor of Artificial Intelligence title at ITM (SLS) Baroda University, India. He has more than 300 publications including articles, authored and edited books, proceedings, and reports. He is also on the editorial boards of many scientific journals and serves as one of the editors of the Biomedical and Robotics Healthcare (CRC Press) and Computational Modeling Applications for Existential Risks (Elsevier) book series. His research interests include artificial intelligence, machine ethics, artificial intelligence safety, biomedical applications, optimization, the chaos theory, distance education, e-learning, computer education, and computer science.

Hyunae Lee is a Research Professor at the Smart Tourism Research Center (STRC) of Kyung Hee University, Republic of Korea. She received her PhD degree in Hotel Management from the same university. Her research interests focus on smart tourism and smart tourism city. Her research work has been published in Journal of Travel Research, International Journal of Hospitality Management, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Information & Management, Telematics and Informatics, and others.

Andreia de Bem Machado, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. She holds PhD in Engineering and Knowledge Management. She is Professor at the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina and Postdoctoral Student at the Federal University of SantaCatarina. She is at the National Institute of Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (Ministry of Education of Brazil). She has been working in the educational field for over 25 years. Currently, her research interests are public policy and political science, innovation and business management issues: Innovation, education, digital transformation, management, hybrid education, digital technologies, active methodology, knowledge media, entrepreneurship, and knowledge management. She is the author of numerous articles and book chapters published in national and international journals.

Dr Ram Kishore Manchiryal is Associate Professor and Head of the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Department at Middle East College (MEC), Oman. His research interests and teaching are in the areas of material characterization, corrosion of steel in concrete, sustainable materials, renewable energy, innovative teaching and learning pedagogies, IoT and AI applications to civil engineering. He is actively engaged in research and publication areas of Civil Engineering and Higher Education. He is a member of the editorial board of well-known journals and extending his services as a reviewer for a few reputed Journals. He has received funding from various funding agencies in India, USA, and Oman. Dr Ram Kishore Manchiryal is also a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE-UK), Fellow of Institution of Engineers (IEI), Sr. Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA-UK) and Member of IFERP. He is professionally qualified as Charted Engineer from IEI (CEng (IEI, India)).

Dr Ali Ahmed Mohammed is a researcher in Traffic Engineering, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Traffic Safety, Sustainable urban design, Intelligent Urban Traffic, modelling, logit, Computational in Highway &Transportation, Remote Sensing GIS, and Urban Transportation in the Department of Civil Engineering, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University, Toronto, Canada.

Khairunnisa Musari is an Assistant Professor at Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI) & Postgraduate Program, Kiai Haji Achmad Siddiq State Islamic University (UIN KHAS), Jember, Indonesia. She is a Deputy Coordinator of Central Indonesia for the Indonesian Association of Islamic Economist (IAEI) (2019–2023) and Secretary of the IAEI for Provincial Board of East Java since 2017. Most of her research concentrates heavily on issues related to sukuk, waqf, esham, fiscal & monetary policies, circular economy, halal logistics, sustainable finance, climate change, and Islamic microfinance & nanofinance. She is a reviewer for several national/international journals, international conferences, and also a reviewer of Research, Scientific Publications, and Community Service (Litapdimas) for Islamic higher education institutions under the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) of the Republic of Indonesia since 2018. She was listed as one of the Top 300 Most Influential Women in Islamic Business & Finance 2019, 2020, 2021, WOMANi Significancica 2022, and WOMANi Academica 2023 by Cambridge-IFA.

Elvira Nica, PhD, Full Professor at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies ranked 351–400th in the world, in the top 501–550 internationally, and second in Romania in the Business and Management subdomain, and the Dean of the Faculty of Administration and Public Management. A distinguished scholar in management and economics, she focuses on human resource management and smart economies, employing advanced research methodologies. PhD coordinator since 2016 and holds a Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Zilina, Slovakia. Recognized as a Highly Cited Scholar in Web of Science and SCOPUS, with a WoS H-index of 12 and SCOPUS H-index of 29, she ranks among Stanford University’s Top 2% Scientists globally (2019-2022). She has contributed over 180 articles and 21 books in her fields, collaborating with top publishers and serving on several international editorial boards. She’s also a Senior Research Fellow and a full member of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society.

Dr Khalil Rahi Assistant Professor of Engineering and Project Management at Abu Dhabi University, brings 16 years of global experience and a diverse background. With a PhD in industrial engineering, an MBA in IT management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, his expertise lies in project resilience and management. Beyond academia, Dr Rahi has successfully managed multiple projects for corporations like ADP, Ceridian, and Eaton, leading software development and implementing technology-powered solutions. As a PMP certification holder, lecturer, researcher, and mentor, he modernizes the project management curriculum, emphasizing project management, innovation and entrepreneurship, and organizational resilience. With several published papers in top journals and the supervision of master’s and PhD’s students in cutting-edge research areas, Dr Rahi actively contributes to the academic field. He also volunteers in several regional and international competitions and reviews articles for project management journals, showcasing his commitment to nurturing the next generation of inventors, and advancing academic research.

Dr Wael A. Samad holds the position of Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and serves as the Chair of the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology – Dubai Campus. He obtained his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2013. Throughout his research endeavors, Dr Samad has delved into areas such as Experimental Solid Mechanics, Material Characterization of 3D Printed Artefacts and Smart Cities. His commitment is demonstrated in the extensive array of over 50 publications he has authored, encompassing peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and conference proceedings. Among his contributions is an edited volume focused on smart cities in the Gulf. Since setting foot in the UAE almost 10 years ago, Dr Samad has been proactive in forging collaborations with prominent local industries. Notably, his work with Emirates Global Aluminium has played a pivotal role in projects that aim to extend the lifespan of ingot moulds, promoting a more sustainable aluminum production in the Emirates.

João Rodrigues dos Santos holds a PhD in Economics and Management, a Master’s degree (with research in the area of Territorial Planning), and a Degree in Geography and Territorial Management (Universidade Nova de Lisboa). He is a Professor at the European University / IADE and he collaborates with the Portuguese Catholic University’s Center for Studies and Surveys. His research interests currently are Economics, Political Economy, Political Economy of Communication, Public Policy, Territorial Planning, Environmental Sustainability, Innovation, Information Technology and Communication. He is the author of several articles and book chapters published in national and international journals. He is also the author of two books in the areas of economics, and territorial management, respectively. Finally, João Rodrigues dos Santos collaborates weekly with CNN Portugal, analyzing the national and international economic situation.

Dr Mustika Sari holds a PhD degree in Civil Engineering. Her primary research interests include infrastructure development and construction management, emphasizing innovations for economic and sustainable development. She is a Senior Researcher at the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure Development (CSID), Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, and has been involved in many national and international research activities. She is the Managing Editor of the CSID Journal of Infrastructure Development (CSID-JID). Currently, she is teaching at the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia.]

Silvana Secinaro, Professor in Business Administration and Accounting at the University of Torino, Department of Management. Chartered accountant and auditor, freelance journalist, and author of numerous publications on public and private accounting and new technologies impact on conservative businesses. Component of National Commission of Italian Ministry of Finance on public accounting. Finally, over the years, she has been the scientific coordinator of multiple European projects, such as H2020 Avangard, to study proper business models for electric mobility in smart cities and an Erasmus + on social entrepreneurship.

Dr Andreea Claudia Şerban is Professor at the Department of Economics and Economic Policies, Faculty of Theoretical and Applied Economics and Director of Doctoral School of Economics I. She holds a PhD in Economics from Bucharest University of Economic Studies and a post-PhD in Economics from Romanian Academy of Science. Her research activity consists in publication of seven books and numerous economic studies in highly ranked journals and participation in many international conferences. She is Associate Editor for International Journal on Semantic Web and Information Systems (IJSWIS – WoS indexed journal) and Editor in Chief for Global Journal of Business, Economics and Management: Current Issues (journal indexed in many international databases). She is reviewer for prestigious international journals and member in editorial board or organizing committee of many international conferences. She is expert for Lithuania Research Council. Her areas of research interest include: sustainable development, smart development, knowledge economy, labor market, education, demographic issues.

Ravi S. Sharma is Professor of Information Systems & Technology Management at Zayed University, a federal university in the United Arab Emirates. Prior to this he held faculty appointments in New Zealand, Singapore and Canada. He had also spent a decade in industry as an ICT consultant with Deutsche Telekom and IBM Global Services. Ravi received his PhD in Management Sciences from the University of Waterloo, Canada and is a Fellow of the IET and Senior Scholar / Distinguished Member of the AIS. His research interests are in the application of design science methods to use-cases of digital platforms and services. His research publications may be found at https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8235-5344.

Maria José Sousa, Iscte, Portugal. University Professor, with a PhD in Management and a Research Fellow at ISCTE/IUL and of CIEO (Algarve University). Her research interests currently are public policies and political science, innovation, and business management issues. She is a best-seller author in ICT and People Management and has co-authored over 70 articles and book chapters and published in several scientific journals (e.g. Journal of Business Research, UAIS, Future Generations Computer Systems, Journal of Medical Systems, I. J. of Knowledge, Culture and Change Management, Knowledge Management, Wseas Transactions on Business and Economics, Information Systems Frontiers, and others), she has organized and peer-reviewed international conferences. She is also External Expert of COST Association – European Cooperation in Science and Technology.

Dr Bambang Susantono is the Chairman of Indonesia’s Nusantara Capital City Authority (NCCA). He was the Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He holds a PhD in Infrastructure Planning and has two master’s degrees in Transportation Engineering and City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley. Susantono was the Acting Minister, Vice-Minister of Transportation of Indonesia (2010–2014), and Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development at the Office of Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs (2007–2010). He chaired several research institutes and taught in universities. He is actively doing research, publishing several books, and writing articles on infrastructure, transportation, urban and regional planning, sustainable development, and climate change.

Dr Hussin A. M. Yahia, Assistant Professor in Transportation Engineering and Traffic Management in the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Middle East College affiliated with Coventry University. He was the principal investigator of several national and international studies, among which Governing the smart cities, Growth of Green Buildings in the Oman Construction Industry, supported by the (Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Oman) and financed with the TRC (The Research Council – Oman). Total amount founded; 18,000 OMR (46,800 USD). His main research interests are focused on issues in smart cities; IoT smart transportation, intelligent transportation systems, road safety, and green technology in buildings and roads.

Preface

The Emerald Handbook of Smart Cities in the Gulf Region delves into the multifaceted development of smart cities across the Gulf, showcasing how technology, innovation, and sustainability converge to transform urban landscapes. The book is structured around contributions from experts who provide comprehensive insights into various aspects of smart city development, ranging from governance frameworks and technological advancements to sustainability initiatives and societal impacts. Through detailed case studies and empirical research, the handbook explores key themes such as smart infrastructure, intelligent transportation systems, renewable energy integration, and digital governance. It also examines the socio-economic benefits of smart city initiatives, including improved quality of life, economic growth, and enhanced public services. By highlighting best practices and emerging trends, the handbook is an essential resource for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers aiming to understand and implement smart city strategies in the Gulf region.

Organization in Sections