Director General of Kuwait Municipality Praises Oman’s Experience in Implementing Smart City Models
Salalah, Sept 8 (KUNA) -- Manal Al-Asfour, Director General of the Kuwait Municipality, praised Oman’s experience in implementing smart city models and urban projects based on innovation and sustainability, which reinforce quality of life for individuals and improve resource efficiency and service delivery.
This was stated in a comment Al-Asfour gave to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) after her participation in the 64th Executive Council session of the Organization of Arab Cities 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 as part of urban transformation, leveraging the digital environment and information and communications technology in line with the requirements of the modern era. She noted 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 cities are experiencing.
The Organization of Arab Cities, headquartered in Kuwait, organized the 64th Executive Council session and the 20th General Conference in cooperation with the Dhofar Municipality in Oman, under the theme “More Innovative and Sustainable Cities,” with delegations from 22 Arab countries participating.
On the sidelines of the Executive Council session 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 the Organization of Arab Cities’ 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 Organization of Arab Cities, 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. (End) M.J.B./N.S.A.
