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 our economy.”
He added, “In Dubai, AI is more than an emerging technology; it is a catalyst for improving the quality of life, simplifying services, and enabling economic growth. We will continue investing in shared digital infrastructure while expanding the use of data and AI across all sectors, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global model for the cities of the future.”
Khalfan Juma Belhoul, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Future Foundation, said, “This ranking reflects the success of Dubai’s forward-looking approach, which focuses on transforming emerging technologies into practical applications that benefit both people and the economy. Leadership in AI is not measured by the number of technologies adopted, but by their ability to deliver meaningful impact, improve productivity, and unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation.”
The report found that cities embedding AI at the core of public services and operations deliver faster improvements in quality of life and service delivery, while achieving higher resident satisfaction through a broader portfolio of real-world AI use cases. It also identified a strong link between frequent use of generative AI and higher public trust in the technology, noting that cities across the Middle East, led by Dubai, are demonstrating particularly strong momentum in embracing AI as a driver of future growth.