Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: The city of Hail secured 33rd place among 148 cities worldwide in the IMD Smart City Index 2026, according to the investment and advisory company Mindsets, marking its first-ever entry into one of the world’s most authoritative urban development benchmarks.
This milestone positions the city alongside established global capitals as a model for citizen-centered smart city development, according to the official statement.
This ranking reinforces the Kingdom’s accelerating presence on the global smart city stage and aligns directly with the objectives of Vision 2030, particularly the Quality of Life Program’s mandate to develop livable, vibrant cities across every region of the Kingdom.
Commenting on this achievement, Rayan Khraibani, CEO of Mindsets, said: “Ranking 33rd globally is not merely a number; it is proof that mid-sized cities with the right vision and the right framework can compete on the world stage. The credit belongs to the Municipality’s leadership and the people of Hail.”
Hail now joins Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah, Madinah, Al-Khobar, and AlUla among Saudi cities featured in the IMD Smart City Index, underscoring the Kingdom’s deepening footprint on the global smart city landscape.
The IMD Smart City Index is one of the world’s most widely referenced urban development benchmarks. It evaluates cities based on two pillars: Structures and Technology across five key areas: health and safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and governance.