Manal Al-Asfour: Implementing Smart City Concepts within the Urban Transformation Pathway and Leveraging the Digital Environment and Information and Communications Technology
Salalah – KUNA: Manal Al-Asfour, Director General of the Kuwait Municipality, praised the Sultanate of Oman’s experience in implementing smart city models and urban projects based on innovation and sustainability, which reinforce individuals’ quality of life and improve the efficiency of resource utilization and service delivery.
This comment was made by Al-Asfour in an interview with KUNA following her participation in the 64th session of the Executive Council of the Arab Cities Organization and its 20th General Conference, alongside city and municipal leaders from 22 Arab countries. The event was hosted in Salalah, in the Dhofar Governorate of Oman, over two days.
Al-Asfour emphasized the Kuwait Municipality’s commitment to applying smart city concepts within the framework of urban transformation, leveraging the digital environment and information and communications technology in line with the demands of the modern era.
She stated that participation in this Arab gathering strengthens the Kuwait Municipality’s plans and initiatives toward digital transformation and the automation of services in various sectors, such as transport and energy, to support operational efficiency.
She added that the event also provides an opportunity to exchange expertise on smart city concepts and design future models, explore ways to implement them, and discuss key challenges, particularly those related to advanced digital infrastructure.
Al-Asfour expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Sultanate of Oman, its leadership, government, and people for hosting the event, as well as to the Mayor of Dhofar, Dr. Ahmed Al-Ghasani, and his staff for their excellent organization. She expressed hope that the conference would yield results and recommendations that contribute to the development of Arab cities and shape their future, while enabling municipalities to keep pace with the rapid changes occurring in urban areas.
The Arab Cities Organization, headquartered in Kuwait, organized the 64th Executive Council meeting and the 20th General Conference in cooperation with the Dhofar Municipality in the Sultanate of Oman, under the theme “More Innovative and Sustainable Cities,” with delegations from 22 Arab countries participating.
On the sidelines of the Executive Council meeting and the General Conference, workshops and scientific sessions were held on smart cities, cybersecurity, and the future of sustainable urban mobility in Arab cities, with the participation of academics and specialists.
Dialogue sessions were also held on enhancing the role of Arab Cities Organization institutions in empowering Arab cities and on reaching an Arab agenda for urban development, with the participation of officials from relevant Arab organizations and participating city leaders.
The Arab Cities Organization, headquartered in Kuwait City, was established in 1967 as an independent, non-governmental, non-profit regional Arab organization concerned with urban and municipal affairs in Arab countries.
