Riyadh city
Zurich retained its top spot for the sixth straight year in the Smart City Index issued by the International Institute for Management Development’s (IMD) World Talent Rankings. 
The index relies on data analyzed by researchers alongside surveys of 120 residents in each city. The index ranked 142 smart cities worldwide, of which seven European cities came on the top 10.
The ranking highlights how infrastructure and available technology in each city impact their performance and the quality of life.
According to the IMD, a smart city is defined as an urban area where technology is applied to enhance benefits and reduce inefficiencies in urbanization for citizens.
Global Smart City Rankings for 2025
Rank
City
Country
1
Zurich
Switzerland
2
Oslo
Norway
3
Geneva
Switzerland
4
Dubai
UAE
5
Abu Dhabi
UAE
6
London
United Kingdom
7
Copenhagen
Denmark
8
Canberra
Australia
9
Singapore
Singapore
10
Lausanne
Switzerland
Riyadh ranked 27th, followed by Makkah (39th), and Jeddah (47th). Al-Ula joined the ranking for the first time.
Global Ranking of Arab Cities
Global Ranking
City
4
Dubai
5
Abu Dhabi
27
Riyadh
33
Doha
36
Manama
39
Mecca
47
Jeddah
61
Al-Khobar
67
Medina
87
Muscat
90
Kuwait City
112
Al-Ula
117
Cairo
123
Rabat
127
Amman
128
Algiers
142
Tunis
143
Beirut
145
Sanaa
Riyadh city
Zurich retained its top spot for the sixth straight year in the Smart City Index issued by the International Institute for Management Development’s (IMD) World Talent Rankings.
The index relies on data analyzed by researchers alongside surveys of 120 residents in each city. The index ranked 142 smart cities worldwide, of which seven European cities came on the top 10.
The ranking highlights how infrastructure and available technology in each city impact their performance and the quality of life.
According to the IMD, a smart city is defined as an urban area where technology is applied to enhance benefits and reduce inefficiencies in urbanization for citizens.
Global Smart City Rankings for 2025
Rank
City
Country
1
Zurich
Switzerland
2
Oslo
Norway
3
Geneva
Switzerland
4
Dubai
UAE
5
Abu Dhabi
UAE
6
London
United Kingdom
7
Copenhagen
Denmark
8
Canberra
Australia
9
Singapore
Singapore
10
Lausanne
Switzerland
Riyadh ranked 27th, followed by Makkah (39th), and Jeddah (47th). Al-Ula joined the ranking for the first time.
Global Ranking of Arab Cities
Global Ranking
City
4
Dubai
5
Abu Dhabi
27
Riyadh
33
Doha
36
Manama
39
Mecca
47
Jeddah
61
Al-Khobar
67
Medina
87
Muscat
90
Kuwait City
112
Al-Ula
117
Cairo
123
Rabat
127
Amman
128
Algiers
142
Tunis
143
Beirut
145
Sanaa
