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

This introductory chapter lays the foundation for a Holistic Smart City framework organized around five pillars namely: Smart City Governance – Strategy – Utilization – Technology – Infrastructure (GSUTI) model. Smart cities governance establishes the overarching structure for effective management, emphasizing data integrity, regulatory resilience, and civic engagement. The strategy pillar integrates vision, mission, and strategic initiatives aligned with sustainable development goals, ensuring resource allocation and innovation resilience. The Utilization Framework encompasses diverse domains like transportation, energy, and healthcare, thus prioritizing initiatives and monitoring impact, enabling technologies that drive smart city innovation, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) (Chui et al., 2018), Internet of Things, blockchain, and cybersecurity to enhance efficiency and service delivery. Infrastructures and capabilities encompass physical and data ecosystems, from buildings and transportation hubs to big data streams and social media content. The chapter sets the context for the scientific discussion, offering practical insights into strategic consultation, performance monitoring, technology management, and data governance. It outlines directions for smart city development in the Gulf Region, including bold visions, megaprojects, national-level initiatives, data-driven services, and AI-driven excellence. This holistic framework provides a roadmap for smart city development, fostering sustainability, innovation, and societal well-being across the Gulf Region and beyond.

Moving into digital transformation, the development and implementation of smart cities have gained global attention, including in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The aim of this chapter primarily rests on the innovation and sustainability of the implemented smart cities, considering the advantages and benefits gained from the utilization of the latest technologies. It also tackles the challenges faced by these countries in managing smart cities and the processes involved in addressing these challenges toward their resolution. The main contribution of this chapter is to highlight the innovative platforms initiated by Gulf nations on smart cities by modeling transformation and development toward Vision 2040. In the form of a narrative account, the contribution extends to assessing the present status of innovativeness and development through smart cities as a baseline for future development directions in the Gulf region. Documentary evidence was solicited from government reports, private agency documents and files, journals, and newspapers to address the chapter’s objectives. Findings revealed that sustainability issues are prevalent and may impact future management and control of its operations. Key recommendations include the intensification of policies and regulations toward smart cities through information and communication technology maximization in the areas of transportation, education, healthcare, government services, infrastructure, and urban planning. Heightened laws and policies to address privacy and security, water, energy, technological infrastructure, overcrowding and traffic congestion, and funding. More collaborative efforts should be made by the different stakeholders, such as the government, private companies, non-government organizations, and individual experts, to ensure the smart city’s sustainable operations.

COVID-19 not only created havoc in bringing retardation of the global economy and massive loss of humankind but also caused rapid urbanization, which unprecedentedly pressured sustainability. Smart cities, using several technologies, interfaces, software, and especially Internet of Things (IoT), deliver integrated solutions in helping achieve SDGs, especially the goal of good health, clean energy, innovation, infrastructure, sustainable cities, helping environmental protection. Intelligent cities deploy various software, interfaces, and state-of-the-art communication tools, to communicate and exchange data with the public to achieve better health. Today, smart cities can map emergencies and hazards, impeding crime in real time. Smart cities can provide efficient city systems and development by deploying a network of intelligent infrastructure. Walkability is the talk of the town because of its ability to improve the urban health economies. Walking in the urban community provides quality of life in technology-oriented modern life. Today’s communities provide facilities, including parks, amenities, stores, shops, and restaurants, civic and cultural facilities within walking distance. Baby Boomers and Millennials, representing adult communities in metro cities, prefer seeking walkable places to spend quality time with their families. Bike riding is today’s hot topic among youth, especially after community developers have developed high-quality bike infrastructure, leading to excellent mobility within the community. The solution providers and planners of smart cities using transit screen provide information to walkers who prefer to avoid involving with mobile technology. At the 93^rd Transportation Board Meeting in Washington D.C., speakers stressed that walking is vital to getting to the car, bike sharing, or even getting to transit; thus, walking has a vital role in engaging all planned transport services.

This chapter delves into how smart city innovations positively affect workforce efficiency, residents’ quality of life (QoL), and the delivery of services, particularly within the dynamic context of smart cities: innovation, development, transformation, and prosperity. It discusses the role of technologies like cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things, and intelligent transport systems in creating efficient, sustainable urban spaces that benefit the workforce and the broader community. The chapter highlights strategies for improving urban environments, ensuring workforce well-being, and fostering sustainable growth by examining the interplay between these technologies and urban living. The narrative emphasizes the necessity of ongoing innovation, policy support, and workforce adaptation, underscoring the importance of tailoring smart city initiatives to regional needs for maximal impact on employee performance, QoL, and service delivery. Additionally, it introduces a comprehensive framework designed to guide the development of next-generation smart cities. This framework integrates advanced technologies for optimized urban management and service provision, directly linking to enhanced employee performance through improved urban infrastructure and services. The strategic application of this framework aims to elevate economic prosperity and societal well-being, ensuring workforce efficiency is central to the urban development agenda. The enhanced employee performance, catalyzed by smart city innovations, is pivotal in driving economic vibrancy, social inclusivity, and environmental sustainability, shaping the future of urban development. This analysis will offer valuable insights for smart cities research and development in the Gulf Region, suggesting pathways for implementing these concepts to address the region’s urbanization and development challenges.

This chapter is a retrospective commentary on the efficacy of teaching and learning in a higher education space that embraces the incredible diversity of delivery modes available in the post-Covid-19 era of “Smart Cities.” The current reality of widespread and leading-edge experimentation with online learning necessitates that existing brick-and-mortar institutions reimagine their places as providers of higher education in this new age of digital disruptions that will resonate with all stakeholders a future of endless possibilities. The authors, with four decades between them of practice and field research at leading universities and colleges in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and UAE, advocate an approach to higher education that is personalized for learning effectiveness, industrial operations, and institutional evolution; that is, a higher education that is democratized. They warn that the wasted opportunities of meaningful digital transformation pre-Covid-19 have led to an urgency of transformation at the present time. While randomized control trials continue to be the “elephant in the room”; scholars, leaders, technocrats, and regulators must drive the quest for the growth and relevance of a diversified and learner-driven higher education in the years ahead. The platform of a “smart city” may just be the catalyst for such a radical innovation.

The contemporary view of museums differs markedly from the traditional perception of scattered institutions, with urbanization and globalization reshaping their definitions and functions. This chapter explores the evolving roles of museums, particularly within the context of smart city development, with a focus on China. The chapter employs a structured methodology, first examining the positive aspects of museums, including their role in safeguarding natural heritage, promoting social responsibility, and facilitating education. Conversely, it scrutinizes the negative influences on museums, such as political and colonial interventions that impact pedagogical practices. A significant aspect of the discussion is the intersection of museum education with smart and adult education, heralding a renaissance in museum learning. A case study on the Danxiashan Geo-Museum illustrates the integration of cultural and heritage institutions into smart city initiatives, serving as a prototype for future endeavors. The chapter underscores the importance of incorporating smart and adult education into museum initiatives, along with smart innovation projects involving local museums and heritage sites. The implications extend to next-generation smart cities, offering insights into their societal, economic, and developmental impacts in the Gulf Region. Museum education emerges as a crucial yet understudied component within the framework of smart cities and education, providing a lens for reimagining future educational paradigms. By embracing the resurgence of museum education and integrating socio-cultural changes, including the rise of heritage education, smart cities can enhance their educational and societal contributions nationally and globally.

The concept of smart cities, driven by advancements in innovative information and communication technologies (ICTs), has gained significant attention in recent years. Smart cities aim to improve the quality of life for citizens by leveraging ICT to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of urban services and infrastructure. One critical aspect of smart cities development is advanced innovations in water management, which play a vital role in achieving sustainability, prosperity of community and ensuring the availability of clean water resources. This chapter explores the relationship between advanced water management and smart cities development and highlights the synergies and benefits that arise from their integration. The chapter develops a framework for adopting innovative ICTs that support the gradual transformation toward next generation smart cities in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Such transformation aligns with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the maintenance of various social, economic, and environmental developments. The chapter begins by discussing the fundamental principles of smart cities and the role of advanced sensing technologies in enabling efficient and automated processes within urban environments. It then delves into the concept of water-sensitive cities, the importance of urban water mass balance analysis in designing sustainable water management strategies, and the emerging trends in water management. Furthermore, the chapter explores the integration of smart program management and the role of citizen engagement in the design and development of smart cities in the GCC countries and finally challenges and concerns facing these programs.

Humans now enjoy a better life because of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI has a significant impact on the creation of smart cities. Modern applications based on big data, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, and deep learning require extensive use of complex computational solutions. Thus, the following problems arise: (1) what are smart cities? (2) what is AI? (3) How is AI used in smart cities? To respond to this problem, the following objective was set: to map how AI is used in smart cities. For this purpose, a qualitative methodology based on a narrative analysis of the literature was used. It is concluded that AI and smart cities are complementary technologies that can assist cities in tackling difficult issues including public safety, transportation, energy management, environmental monitoring, and predictive maintenance. This chapter’s findings, while broadly applicable, offer valuable insights into the Gulf region’s unique context, where rapid urbanization and technological adoption intersect with cultural and environmental considerations. The integration of AI in smart cities presents a promising avenue for the Gulf region to address its specific challenges and leverage its economic and infrastructural strengths, thereby contributing to the broader goals of innovation, development, prosperity, and well-being as envisioned in the region’s Vision 2040 initiatives.

This chapter is concerned about the effect of innovation and sustainable development on smart cities, since smart cities focus on the improvement of society, by providing fine and good services, so it’s a must to use new ideas and solve arising problems in a clear and nice way that will allow smart cities to provide excellent type of work. Innovation and sustainability will robust the capability of smart cities to tackle uncertain issues in the environment of our urban area. The usage of new technology will increase competitive advantages in the market of technology, because each organization wants to satisfy the need for smart cities, by presenting the latest technology in those new and smart cities, which ultimately enhances the services applied in these improved and developed cities.

Technology and a gig economy have affected how people are employed, with shorter-term, more flexible, and technologically mediated work arrangements increasingly becoming the norm. The digital platform, which acts both as a marketplace and a “shadow employer,” makes this possible, with workers provided with unprecedented autonomy and flexibility. The authors examine the interplay between the gig economy and the concept of the smart city – an urban environment reliant upon information and communication technologies – and focus on how technological integrations such as blockchain, the collective network of connected devices, and the technology that facilitates communication between devices and the cloud, as well as between the devices themselves (Internet of Things [IoT]), and 5G, bolster opportunities for gig workers to carve out an existence in a perpetually changing landscape. Examples are provided for the global giant Amazon and the regional businesses Talabat and Raha in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Application of real-time tracking, precision-driven management, and decentralized transactions, provides gig workers new opportunities for employment in their evolving digital smart-city environment.

This chapter introduces the Smart Tourism Cities Competitiveness Index (STCCI), an innovative benchmarking tool developed in collaboration with the Seoul Tourism Organization and the Smart Tourism Research Center at Kyung Hee University. The STCCI evaluates cities on smart tourism using a comprehensive framework that covers five key dimensions: attractiveness, accessibility, digitalization readiness, sustainability, and co-partnership, further detailed into 17 categories and 51 specific indicators. The application of STCCI to the Gulf cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha reveals their strengths and areas for enhancement in the realm of smart tourism. Dubai shines in attracting visitors and embracing digital technology, while Abu Dhabi leads in online visibility and the accessibility of tourism information. Doha is recognized for its superior accessibility. Despite these strengths, each city faces unique challenges that need addressing. The STCCI not only provides a deep dive into the current state and potential growth of smart tourism infrastructures in these cities post-pandemic but also positions them on a global scale in terms of competitiveness in smart tourism. The index suggests strategic improvements, supporting the evolution of these cities into advanced smart cities in the Gulf region, characterized by innovation, development, transformation, and prosperity. This chapter contributes valuable perspectives for ongoing smart cities research and development across the Gulf, emphasizing the significance of this approach in guiding the future of urban tourism in a smarter, more connected world.

This chapter investigates the essential practices to digitally transform the process of issuing final clearance certificates. In Dubai, a final clearance system enhancement was introduced recently to combine all stakeholders as it is part of Electronic No Objection Certificate (eNOC) portal to issue the certificate. The eNOC platform acts as a centralized hub, bringing together multiple service entities from both government and private organizations to issue unified NOCs for infrastructure projects within the Right-Of-Way. Employing the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) approach to engineering management, the chapter systematically evaluates the project’s aspects. Real-life case studies illustrate challenges encountered in the manual final clearance process for construction projects such as electric cable lines, water lines, and sewerage networks. The proposed transformation seeks to automate application reception and bolster departmental ownership within the eNOC system, incorporating all relevant entities and departments involved in base construction NOC approvals. Departmental assignments for final clearance applications based on project type aim to optimize the process. Interface upgrades will include alert messages guiding applicants to select the correct application type, reducing submission errors on a centralized web portal. Comprehensive reports will provide an overview of final clearance application statuses for effective monitoring. The chapter presents a comprehensive framework tailored for infrastructure projects, seamlessly integrating with the eNOC system. Anticipated outcomes encompass improved project management, streamlined processes, heightened customer satisfaction, and sustainable infrastructural growth, particularly pertinent to Smart Cities’ development within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, aligning with aspirations for technological innovation and urban progress.

In recent years, a shift in economic focus has occurred, recognizing humans as the primary resource and indispensable element in economic relationships. This shift has given rise to a new economic model known as the knowledge-based economy, which places emphasis on human resources, experiences, skills, ideas, and knowledge generation. The knowledge-based economy relies heavily on information as a strategic commodity to enhance services and national income while increasing employment rates. This economic model has found application across various fields, including education, commerce, medicine, and urban planning. Particularly, the concept of smart cities has emerged as a modern notion linking the knowledge-based economy with urban development. Despite global interest in these concepts, the literature suggests a lack of attention to the knowledge-based economy and smart cities in the Arab Gulf region, including Qatar. This chapter aims to explore the relationship between smart city initiatives and the transformational processes of the knowledge-based economy, especially in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries like Qatar. It argues that smart cities and the knowledge-based economy are mutually interdependent. Smart city initiatives rely on the information and knowledge produced by the knowledge-based economy, while the latter requires better utilization of knowledge by smart applications to flourish. Using the case of Lusail smart city in Qatar, the chapter examines how the integration of smart city technologies contributes to Qatar’s progression toward a knowledge-based economy. It emphasizes the strategic significance, facilitation of innovation, and practical implementation of sustainable urban development strategies in Qatar’s development trajectory.

The emergence of smart cities, metropolises that integrate physical infrastructure, digital technology, and data analytics, and that focus on urban sustainability, have profoundly changed urban development. In the modern digital era, robust infrastructure has become an indispensable catalyst for urban advancement. Kuwait is dedicated to the integration of diverse renewable energy technologies in the development of smart cities that enhance energy security, promote innovation, and contribute to global climate change mitigation efforts. Focusing on smart cities within Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, a review is presented of how successfully they have effectively combined technology, infrastructure, and sustainability to serve as models for new global and regional developments. Insights into what makes a city smart are provided in different settings.

This study examines the social acceptance and potential for residential solar integration in Abu Dhabi to support sustainable urban innovation and prosperity. A survey of 216 Abu Dhabi residents analyzed four scenarios for incentivizing household solar panel adoption. Results demonstrate high interest and preference for governmental financial support mechanisms to spur solar integration. This research contributes an assessment framework and citizen engagement insights that could inform smart city development strategies focused on renewable energy transformation across the Gulf region. As urban centers like Abu Dhabi strive to enact their visions for economic diversification and environmental sustainability, understanding citizen perspectives on innovations like distributed solar will be critical to align technology advancement with societal needs and values. The methodology and findings of this Abu Dhabi case study provide a model to catalyze stakeholder buy-in for new energy solutions, with potential applications for other Gulf cities aiming to transition their energy systems and build integrative renewables infrastructure to power next-generation smart development. This solar integration acceptance research lays the groundwork for continued scholarly discourse and policymaker collaboration around smart cities in the Gulf that realize multidimensional progress for society, economy, and environment.

The global urban population is expanding rapidly, leading to higher energy consumption, air pollution, and traffic jams in cities that require more efficient solutions. Smart cities are anticipated to address the efficiency of urban infrastructure. In the Sultanate of Oman, the government launched the idea of establishing smart cities to promote large-scale planned urban expansion, especially in the capital, Muscat, as well as to promote accelerated development and growth. As the Sultanate embarks on this journey to establish smart cities “such as the Sultan Haitham City Project” to drive development in the country. The objective of this study is to ascertain the principles and facets of sustainable development and its contribution to the formulation of urban development policies. Additionally, this study seeks to evaluate the notion of smart cities along with their distinctive features and constituents. As the Sultanate of Oman embarks on this journey to create engines and alternatives to develop the economy and push the wheel of development in the country according to Oman Vision 2040, this chapter outlines the way to make this dream a reality. The chapter provides strategies for planned urban expansion, especially in the capital, Muscat, and guidelines for the development of smart cities. It explains in detail the difficulties faced by some smart cities in the world.

Seaports seek to find innovative technological solutions to deal with the ever-increasing growth of transportation and increasing the intensity of competition through the use of emerging technology such as digital twin technology to improve the quality of their logistics operations. Despite the success of digital twins in many industries, there is still a lack of their application in the field of seaports where ports play a central role as part of global transportation chains. Seaports sustainability comprises three main aspects: the social aspect that encompasses more job opportunities, the economic aspect that enhances foreign trade, and the environmental aspect that refers to the process of managing and operating ports in a way that saves the environment. This chapter discusses how to apply digital twins’ technology on the imported Twenty equivalent foot unit (TEUs) taking into consideration the population growth, and the capacity of the storage area of the container terminals in an attempt to explore the impact on Kuwait’s seaports sustainability. The study provides a framework for capacity management in an attempt to initiate the next generation of smart seaports cities and consequently impact society, economy, and well-being in Kuwait and Gulf region. The results of the study showed that there is a strong correlation between population growth and imported TEUs growth during the essential stage of the study. The correlation factor was 0.97, and this correlation will support the prediction until Kuwait vision 2040.

In an era where technology rapidly reshapes society, Kuwait stands at the forefront of digitalization and the realization of smart cities. This chapter examines the impact of this technological revolution across diverse sectors within Kuwait. From integrating digital infrastructure in urban development to the role of social media in political, health, and corporate realms, it provides a comprehensive exploration of digitalization’s influence. The chapter begins by highlighting Kuwait’s $10 billion investment in 2024, marking a significant step toward becoming a smart city. It investigates the evolving role of social media in political campaigns, demonstrating how digital platforms shape political narratives and voter behavior. In public health, the chapter underscores the Kuwaiti government’s strategic use of social media to disseminate vital health information, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, influencing public behavior and community engagement. Furthermore, the discussion focuses on Kuwait’s Vision 2035, examining how governmental social media campaigns mold public perception and awareness. The chapter also explores the private sector, showing how companies leverage social media for innovation, performance enhancement, and talent acquisition. Additionally, it scrutinizes the influence of social media on political candidates’ brand personalities and voter behavior, providing insights into digital political communication dynamics. Finally, the chapter addresses the surge in online shopping during emergencies, discussing its implications for e-commerce, consumer behavior, and the challenges it presents in terms of infrastructure, cybersecurity, and the digital divide.

Smart cities are where dreams are made true for the future. Abu Dhabi, UAE has been given the title of smartest city in the Middle East region in the “Smart City Index 2021.” UAE is known for its rich natural resources that established much business connectivity and developed the country economically and socially. It built an innovative infrastructure with equipment for healthcare and connected people through smartphones avoiding patient travel. This enhances the patient’s life expectancy and mortality rate. UAE’s net zero emission by 2050 will reduce the carbon footprint from its industries. UAE, on the other hand, is building sustainable, innovative, smart, and energy-efficient cities. It is the leading country in the world with digital transformation in the Arab world. In this study, the scope of Gulf countries moving toward smart cities are analyzed with air pollution. The slope of regression for PM₁₀ from linear regression was Khadija (0.9442), CI 0.9237 to 0.9647 and Khalifa City (0.9745), CI 0.9591 to 0.9900. In 2022, the CO₂ per capita emissions of UAE (25.8t) are higher over the world (4.7t). However, PM₁₀ and AQI seem to be pretty good in a few cities, enhancing the living style, and climate change mitigation.

This chapter presents a comprehensive framework for advancing smart cities in Bahrain, focusing on innovation, development, transformation, and prosperity. The framework integrates technological advancements with sustainable practices to enhance societal well-being, economic growth, and overall development. It aligns with Bahrain’s 2030 Vision, aiming to create Next Generation Smart Cities. The chapter emphasizes enhancing social impact, healthcare access, and promoting a healthy lifestyle, driving economic growth through digital infrastructure, and promoting sustainability through renewable energy and smart urban planning. It provides a roadmap for integrating smart technologies into urban planning, infrastructure development, and service delivery, improving residents’ quality of life and promoting economic growth. The framework highlights the importance of sustainability, emphasizing environmentally friendly practices and energy-efficient solutions. Bahrain’s smart city initiatives are multifaceted, encompassing social, economic, and sustainability agendas. Socially, the focus is on promoting cohesion and community engagement through smart parks, community centers, and digital platforms that facilitate communication and collaboration. Economically, Bahrain aims to drive growth and innovation by investing in digital infrastructure and deploying smart technologies across sectors like finance and tourism. Additionally, the kingdom is developing a skilled workforce in emerging technologies to enhance competitiveness. Sustainability is a key pillar, with Bahrain investing in renewable energy sources and smart grid technologies to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve energy efficiency. These initiatives collectively aim to enhance the quality of life, drive economic prosperity, and promote environmental sustainability in Bahrain’s smart cities.

The concept of smart city has been adopted by various cities across the world. As urbanization is enlarging at a flying pace, the number of cities that engage the smart city concept is to rise, including in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. This chapter discusses issues related to the development of (Islamic) smart cities in the GCC countries to create sustainable well-being through ecological and environmental resilience. This issue starts from the conflict between economic and human development on the one hand and ecological and environmental resilience on the other hand as one of the fundamental challenges of sustainable development. The higher the Human Development Index (HDI),, the higher the ecological footprint. Likewise, in the GCC region, all member countries are classified as Very High Human Development; however, all of these countries have a high ecological footprint. Therefore, through a literature study, this chapter focuses on investigating the development of (Islamic) smart cities in the GCC countries in reducing ecological footprints through a circular economy innovation with the support of technology and a digitally-enabled community in creating ecological and environmental resilience. This chapter provides valuable insight into the implementation of the (Islamic) smart cities in the GCC region in taking a global strategic role in green transition through the circular economy to transform their region toward sustainable well-being and become a symbol of sustainable smart global Islamic civilization.

In smart cities striving for innovation, development, and prosperity, hydrogen offers a promising path for decarbonization. However, its effective integration into the evolving energy landscape requires understanding regional intricacies and identifying areas for improvement. This chapter examines hydrogen transport from production to utilization, evaluating technologies’ pros, cons, and process equations and using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) tool to assess these technologies based on multiple criteria. It also explores barriers and opportunities in hydrogen transport within the 21st-century energy transition, providing insights for overcoming challenges. Evaluation criteria for hydrogen transport technologies were ranked by relative importance, with energy efficiency topping the list, followed by energy density, infrastructure requirements, cost, range, and flexibility. Safety, technological maturity, scalability, and compatibility with existing infrastructure received lower weights. Hydrogen transport technologies were categorized into three performance levels: low, medium, and high. Hydrogen tube trailers ranked lowest, while chemical hydrides, hydrail, liquid organic hydrogen carriers, hydrogen pipelines, and hydrogen blending exhibited moderate performance. Compressed hydrogen gas, liquid hydrogen, ammonia carriers, and hydrogen fueling stations demonstrated the highest performance. The proposed framework is crucial for next-gen smart cities, cutting emissions, boosting growth, and speeding up development with a strong hydrogen infrastructure. This makes the region a sustainable tech leader, improving air quality and well-being. Aligned with Gulf Region goals, it is key for smart cities. Policymakers, industries, and researchers can use these insights to overcome barriers and seize hydrogen transport tech opportunities.

Nusantara, Indonesia’s currently developed new capital city, aims to lead the nation toward a more efficient and sustainable future by fostering an inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous development for all. Envisioned to be built as a smart city, Nusantara leverages the latest technological advancements across various domains as the basis for this cutting-edge urban development. This chapter discusses the advanced technologies implemented to realize the smart city concept in the development of Nusantara. The Nusantara smart city framework encompasses six domains: smart governance, transportation and mobility, smart living, natural resources and energy, smart industry, and human resources, along with the smart built environment and infrastructure, aiming to transform Nusantara into a smart city that epitomizes efficiency, sustainability, and inclusivity. This framework outlines integrating advanced technologies to foster a resilient economy, a sustainable environment, and an enhanced quality of life for its citizens through improved administrative procedures, transportation systems, public safety, healthcare access, resource management, and infrastructure development. Implementing this framework can provide insight into the future development of smart cities in the Gulf Region, poised to significantly impact societal well-being and economic resilience significantly, demonstrating a model for future urban development that harmonizes community engagement, technological innovation, and environmental preservation.

This chapter delves into the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in spearheading the smart city vision by 2040 in the Gulf Region. It emphasizes the integration of AI with smart city governance, strategy, and infrastructure, underlining the pivotal role AI plays in digital transformation. The discourse navigates through strategic areas such as the exploitation of Large Language Models for enhancing smart city services, the utilization of AI in analyzing social network content and crowdsourcing applications, and leveraging AI’s reasoning capabilities to bolster predictive analytics and smart city services innovation. The chapter also showcases how AI-driven innovation fosters the development of new markets and industries within the smart city ecosystem. Highlighting the Gulf Region’s strategic investment in human capital and technology, the authors present a vision where smart cities serve as hubs of sustainability, innovation, and economic growth. Through the lens of the Smart City GSUTI Framework, the narrative illustrates the comprehensive integration of governance, strategy, utilization frameworks, technologies, and infrastructural capabilities. This holistic approach ensures that AI not only enhances the quality of life and economic prosperity in the Gulf Region but also positions it as a global leader in smart city development. The chapter is a call to action for leveraging AI’s potential to transform the Gulf Region into a model for sustainable, innovative, and smart urban development by 2040.