The city of Hail has made a historic debut in the Smart City Index 2026, in a major milestone for Saudi Arabia’s urban development, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), the Smart City Index ranked Hail 33rd among 148 cities worldwide. Hail’s entry into the list highlights the accelerated progress of Saudi Arabia’s transition into a world-class smart city hub.
The IMD Index evaluates cities based on a dual framework, balancing economic and technological advancements with “humane dimensions” such as environment, inclusiveness, and overall quality of life.
According to the 2026 results, Hail showed strong performance across several key criteria, including health and safety, mobility, urban services, economic opportunities, and digital governance. This performance has significantly elevated its status among the world’s most developed urban centers.
This milestone reflects the synergy between various sectors, fueled by strategic initiatives that advance digital transformation, refine the urban landscape, and optimize service delivery. These efforts are central to modern urban development and the Vision 2030 goal of elevating the global standing of Saudi cities.
In addition to Hail, the IMD Smart City Index 2026 highlighted progress of other Saudi cities. Riyadh, the Kingdom’s highest-ranked city, climbed three positions to reach the 24th spot globally. Makkah secured the 50th place, while Jeddah ranked 55th, and Al-Khobar 64th.
The report also highlighted a groundbreaking achievement for AlUla, which jumped 27 places to reach the 85th rank, while Hafr Al-Batin successfully made its debut in the 100th position. Together, these rankings underscore a nationwide upward trend in digital maturity and liveability across the Kingdom.
