- | 1:00 pm Dubai ranks second in global intelligent cities index, leads in AI adoption The report noted that cities across the Middle East, led by Dubai, are demonstrating particularly strong momentum in embracing AI as a driver of future growth. Dubai’s ambition to become the world’s smartest city is translating into global recognition. The emirate has ranked second worldwide in the inaugural Intelligent Cities Index by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), while claiming the top spot globally for AI adoption and smart city technologies, a milestone that underscores how AI is increasingly shaping public services, economic competitiveness, and urban living. The index evaluated 61 cities across 39 countries, measuring how effectively they deploy digital technologies and AI to deliver measurable outcomes for residents and businesses. Cities were assessed across five pillars: Outcomes, Strategy, Adoption, Ways of Working, and Enablers, using 35 indicators spanning 14 dimensions of digital transformation. Dubai led the global rankings in AI adoption, reflecting its extensive deployment of AI-powered applications and smart digital services across government and industry. According to BCG, this has positioned the emirate among the world’s most digitally mature cities by turning advanced technologies into practical solutions that improve services while creating value for businesses and communities. Commenting on the achievement, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai, said, “This outstanding global ranking reflects the success of our wise leadership’s vision, which has established digital transformation and AI as strategic priorities for building a more efficient government and a future-ready city. Dubai’s achievement is the result of an integrated digital ecosystem built on data, shared digital infrastructure, and close collaboration across government entities and all economic sectors. This ecosystem enables advanced technologies to be transformed into practical services and solutions that create tangible value for society while fostering the competitiveness of