Kuwait strengthens its presence in the list of the world's smartest cities

- 84.7% expressed satisfaction with using facial recognition technologies to enhance security

- 82.3% confirmed their trust in the government due to the availability of information online

- 66.1% reported relying on digital payments and transactions

- 54% expressed willingness to share their data to improve traffic flow

- Community trust and broad acceptance of modern technologies

- Governance and government services constitute one of Kuwait’s key strengths

- A foundation built upon to expand the scope of smart solutions and develop digital services

- Notable superiority in the mechanization of official documents and speed of digital communications

- Rising level of citizen trust in government digital platforms and medical services

The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) Smart City Index 2026 revealed that Kuwait City possesses an advanced foundation in digital infrastructure and services, recording strong results in several areas related to the quality of health and government services, digital transformation, and public trust in modern technologies. The capital ranked 95th out of 148 cities globally, maintaining its overall classification at the (CCC) level.

The analytical report showed that the "Infrastructure and Systems" pillar received a rating of (B), higher than the "Technology and Digital Solutions" pillar, which scored (CCC). This reflects a strong foundation that can be built upon to expand the scope of smart solutions and develop digital services in the city.

Although Kuwait City ranked 95th globally, the index results simultaneously highlight a set of strengths possessed by the capital, particularly in digital health and government services, infrastructure and systems, as well as the high level of public acceptance of modern technologies.

With continued focus on addressing challenges related to housing, congestion, and the environment, these factors provide a foundation that can be leveraged to expand the scope of smart solutions and enhance the efficiency of services and quality of life in Kuwait City in the coming phase.

The index highlighted positive indicators regarding the level of acceptance and use of modern technologies by Kuwait City residents in their daily lives. Specifically, 84.7% of participants expressed satisfaction with using facial recognition technologies to enhance security and reduce crime, while 82.3% confirmed that the availability of information online strengthened their trust in government authorities. Furthermore, 66.1% indicated their primary reliance on digital payments and transactions in their daily lives, and 54% expressed willingness to share their personal data to improve traffic flow.

These results reflect a high level of community readiness to benefit from digital technologies, providing a supportive foundation for expanding the scope of smart services and developing digital solutions across various sectors.

In the analysis of operational sectors, the Health and Safety sector recorded high results, supported by the quality of medical services, which scored 77.1 out of 100. Health services also demonstrated notable digital integration, with electronic appointment booking scoring 80.5 out of 100. Meanwhile, the prevalence of security surveillance cameras scored 74 out of 100, reflecting a prominent presence of digital solutions and modern technologies in health and safety-related services.

Conversely, air pollution indicators scored 34.5 out of 100, while the affordability of housing scored 42.5 out of 100, areas that still require further development.

The Governance and Public Services pillar highlighted one of Kuwait City’s most significant strengths, recording a score of 77.2 out of 100 for the electronic issuance of official documents and certificates, alongside a score of 77.9 out of 100 for ease of access to local government decisions.

These results underscore the progress made in providing public services and official information through digital channels, while indicators for public financial transparency and e-participation recorded average performance at approximately 55 out of 100.

In the Opportunities and Education sector, Kuwait City achieved positive results across several indicators. The level of ensuring children’s access to good schools reached 74.7 out of 100, while internet speed to meet digital connectivity needs scored 73.9 out of 100. Additionally, ease of finding jobs via digital employment platforms scored 69.2 out of 100, reflecting the role of digital tools in facilitating access to educational and professional opportunities.

Regarding the aspirations of the capital’s residents, the provision of affordable housing topped the priority list with 78.2 percent, followed by traffic congestion and road overcrowding at 64.5 percent. Other priorities included addressing air pollution at 40.3 percent, expanding green spaces at 35.5 percent, creating suitable job opportunities at 33.9 percent, enhancing transparency and combating corruption at 32.3 percent, and activating recycling mechanisms at 28.8 percent.

In the Mobility sector, infrastructure related to decongestion scored 20.7 out of 100, while the performance of smart applications for traffic solutions ranged between 56.7 and 63.6 out of 100, indicating significant room for enhancing digital solutions that support traffic management.

According to the index, Zurich, Switzerland, officially retained its title as the “Smartest City in the World” for the seventh consecutive year. What distinguishes Zurich is not merely its technologies, but the extent to which it integrates and seamlessly leverages innovation to serve daily life.

Oslo ranked second on the list of the world’s top 10 smartest cities, followed by Geneva in third place, London in fourth, and Copenhagen in fifth. Dubai successfully broke into the upper tier, ranking sixth as a leading technology hub in the Middle East. Lausanne came seventh, Canberra eighth, Singapore ninth, and Abu Dhabi tenth.

In the United States, only four cities managed to secure a spot in the top 50 for 2026. Boston ranked highest at 35th, while Washington, D.C. jumped 23 places to reach 39th. The list also included other U.S. cities such as Seattle (41st) and New York (45th). San Francisco (72nd), Los Angeles (73rd), Denver (78th), Chicago (81st), and Philadelphia (99th) were included in the top 100 cities list.

The model established by Zurich confirms that the definition of smart cities is determined by the extent to which technology enhances sustainability levels, mobility efficiency, and human well-being.