Khobar Governorate Climbs 38 Places in 2025 Smart City Index
The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) announced today that Khobar Governorate has made a significant leap in the Smart City Index 2025, climbing 38 places to rank 61st globally. This remarkable advancement underscores the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's continued progress in digital transformation and innovation.
Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Region and Chairman of the Sharqia Development Authority, stated that Khobar's rise in the rankings reflects the Kingdom's ambitious vision to transform its cities into world-class urban models.
Moreover, Prince Saud emphasized that this achievement is the result of close cooperation between public and private sectors, working together to build a technologically advanced, economically sustainable, and investment-friendly environment. He reaffirmed his strong support for continuing this development journey and achieving even greater milestones.
Omar bin Saleh Al-Abdullatif, CEO of the Sharqia Development Authority, highlighted that Khobar's improved ranking illustrates the Kingdom's broader advancements across multiple sectors. He also pointed to the city's attractive environment for talent and professionals, ecological diversity, and robust infrastructure—both physical and digital. He credited the progress to ongoing investments in modern technology integration across health, education, transport, culture, and governance.
Related Topics:
Diriyah Company, Giza Systems Partner on Smart City Initiative
KAFD Enhances Smart City Sustainability, Security in New Strategic Partnership
Saudi Expands Adoption of Smart City Technology in Riyadh
SDAIA Marks Its Presence at Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona
Short link :
Post Views: 19
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
SEVEN invests in future of Saudi entertainment sector
Saudi Entertainment Ventures, known as SEVEN, is investing heavily in the future of the Kingdom's entertainment sector by creating a broad spectrum of job opportunities, said Abdulelah AlFawzan, chief projects officer at SEVEN. AlFawzan told Arab News that SEVEN is developing a diverse range of technical, creative, operational, and managerial roles to unlock 'new horizons of joy' while building a thriving and sustainable workforce that mirrors the energy and ambition of Saudi Arabia. He said the company has already achieved 55 percent Saudization across its workforce, including 45 percent in leadership positions. 'Through initiatives such as our Future Leadership Program in partnership with IMD, we are equipping Saudi talent with global best practices in entertainment management, ensuring they are prepared to lead this sector forward,' AlFawzan explained. He said that delivering the best guest experiences depends on passionate, diverse teams who deeply understand and share the culture of the communities they serve. 'We are committed to creating opportunities that empower Saudi youth to build meaningful careers in the entertainment industry,' he added. The chief projects officer revealed that SEVEN is reshaping international entertainment experiences to resonate strongly with Saudi cultural values. AlFawzan stressed that guests remain at the core of every decision SEVEN makes. When collaborating with global brands like Warner Bros. Discovery, Mattel, and Hasbro, the company ensures a robust commitment to meaningful localization. 'It is never a matter of simply importing a concept,' he said. 'We carefully reinterpret every experience to reflect Saudi traditions, family values, and community preferences.' AlFawzan disclosed that more than 60 percent of SEVEN's offerings are locally inspired, which guarantees that each destination feels authentic, familiar, and welcoming to Saudi audiences. 'Our aim is for every visitor to feel a deep sense of cultural pride and connection upon entering a SEVEN venue because, for us, entertainment reflects identity — not just leisure,' he said. Addressing concerns about whether large-scale projects like SEVEN overshadow local businesses in favor of international brands, AlFawzan reaffirmed the company's dedication to nurturing both. 'We firmly believe that global and local players, alongside diverse creative talent, are all essential to the success of our destinations,' he said. While SEVEN partners with renowned names such as Warner Bros. Discovery, Mattel, Flow House, Play-Doh, Clip 'n Climb, and Hasbro, it equally prioritizes celebrating Saudi creativity. He said that the company is actively developing original attractions and homegrown concepts across its venues by working closely with Saudi artists and entrepreneurs to bring local content and ideas to life. 'Whether through Saudi-owned offerings or regionally inspired entertainment, we are establishing platforms where local innovation can thrive alongside international intellectual properties,' AlFawzan said. 'Our guests deserve an entertainment landscape that honors global excellence while remaining deeply rooted in Saudi identity, originality, and values.' AlFawzan also said that SEVEN places sustainability and cultural connection at the core of its nationwide entertainment developments, fully aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. 'Sustainability is not an afterthought at SEVEN; it is a guiding principle embedded in every stage of our development,' he said. He detailed how the company integrates environmental responsibility from design through construction and into long-term operations, with a clear focus on minimizing environmental impact. He said that SEVEN is targeting LEED certification across its portfolio spanning 14 cities. 'To date, we have recycled more than 75 percent of construction waste and sourced over 50 percent of materials from certified green suppliers,' AlFawzan noted. He highlighted that the incorporation of high-performance solutions has led to energy savings of up to 20 percent and water savings of up to 80 percent in key project locations. Beyond environmental stewardship, SEVEN prioritizes broader social impact through community engagement and cultural preservation. 'Entertainment is a powerful catalyst for community connection and cultural pride,' AlFawzan explained. 'With over SR50 billion ($13.3 billion) invested across 14 cities, our projects are accessible within minutes or a short drive for most Saudi communities,' he pointed out. 'Accessibility is at the heart of our vision: making extraordinary experiences part of everyday life.' He also revealed that SEVEN is introducing region-first and world-first concepts to the Kingdom, including the world's first Hot Wheels electric go-karting experience and next-generation Family Entertainment Centers that seamlessly combine physical play with digital interaction. 'But more than the rides and attractions, what truly sets SEVEN apart is our focus on culture and community,' he added.
Arab News
5 days ago
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia ranks 17th globally in competitiveness index as it outshines economic heavyweights
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has maintained its spot in the top 20 of the World Competitiveness Ranking, ahead of global heavyweights the UK, Germany and France. The Kingdom secured 17th position on the list, driven by strong governance, infrastructure upgrades, diversification, and regulatory reforms. Issued by the International Institute for Management Development's World Competitiveness Center, the ranking is widely recognized as a benchmark for evaluating how effectively countries utilize their resources to drive long-term economic growth. Saudi Arabia was placed just behind China in 16th and ahead of Australia in 18th place. Although this marks a slight drop from 16th in 2024, Saudi Arabia's 2025 ranking represents a significant improvement from 32nd in 2023 and 24th in 2022, underscoring its rising economic stature. As part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia launched the National Competitiveness Center in 2019, with the organization now working with 65 government bodies to drive reforms centered on productivity, sustainability, inclusiveness, and resilience. According to the World Competitiveness Center, the Kingdom needs to 'continue efforts to promote renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions' and 'carry on enhancing overall competitiveness across multiple pillars.' Improvement will also come if Saudi Arabia continues to 'invest even more in human capital development across all economic sectors' and push ahead with 'ongoing government endeavors to achieve the targets in the Saudi 2030 vision.' The IMD report is one of the world's most comprehensive competitiveness benchmarks, evaluating 69 countries across four pillars: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure. The ranking shows that GCC countries continue to demonstrate their growing economic strength and regional importance, with the UAE leading the group, securing fifth place globally, reflecting its diversified economy and strategic initiatives to attract investment. Qatar follows in ninth place, supported by substantial infrastructure development and robust financial resources. Bahrain was ranked 22, Oman came in at 28, and Kuwait was placed at 36, showing steady progress through structural reforms and sectoral investment despite ongoing challenges. These rankings underscore the GCC's ambition to strengthen global economic resilience and competitiveness. Switzerland, Singapore, and Hong Kong lead the ranking, while Canada, Germany, and Luxembourg saw the most notable improvements among the top 20 economies. Saudi focus According to the IMD, Saudi Arabia has made progress in several key economic areas, although some aspects still require improvement. On the economic performance indicator, the Kingdom ranks 17th globally with a score of 62.3. Its domestic economy scored 59.2, placing it 25th worldwide, an improvement of six positions from the previous year. International trade advanced three places to 29th with a score of 56.0, while global investment climbed four spots to 16th with a score of 57.8, signaling increased investor confidence. However, the employment sector declined slightly, dropping three positions to 29th with a score of 55.6. Inflationary pressures impacted the prices indicator, which fell eight places to 19th despite maintaining a relatively strong score of 60.7. These mixed results reflect Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to strike a balance between growth and economic stability amid global and domestic challenges. Public finance indicators remain solid, with a score of 69.5, placing the Kingdom 13th globally, despite a modest three-position drop. Tax policy holds steady at 67.6 points and 12th place, with a similar three-rank decline. The institutional framework experienced a more pronounced decline, dropping seven places to 27th with a score of 58.6, indicating potential areas for reform. In contrast, business legislation improved, rising two places to 13th with a score of 67.6, indicating regulatory progress. The societal framework remains a key challenge, ranking 55th with a score of 44.2, representing a nine-position decline, which highlights the need for continued social and structural development to support economic goals. Saudi Arabia ranked 12th globally in business efficiency with a strong score of 81.4. Productivity and efficiency showed further strength, scoring 66 and placing the Kingdom 15th, up six spots. The labor market remains a key strength, ranking 9th despite a four-place drop, with a score of 64.2. The finance sector gained three ranks to 19th with 63.4 points, while management practices rose to 17th with a score of 64. Attitudes and values remain a significant national asset, ranking third globally with a score of 81.6, reflecting a strong culture of resilience and ambition. Infrastructure continues to show marked improvement. Basic infrastructure ranks seventh globally with a score of 67.6, up two positions. Technological infrastructure rose 10 places to 23rd with a score of 59.5, and scientific infrastructure improved nine spots to 29th with a score of 52.1. Health and environment indicators gained slightly, moving up one place to 47th with a score of 47.5. Education declined marginally, down one position to 39th with a score of 55.4, signaling an area for continued focus.
Asharq Al-Awsat
7 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
India's Monsoon Back on Track, Heatwave to Ease, Says Weather Officials
India's monsoon has revived after stalling for more than a fortnight, and rains are set to cover central parts of the country this week, bringing relief from the heatwave in the grain-growing northern plains, two senior weather officials said on Monday. The monsoon, the lifeblood of the country's nearly $4 trillion economy, delivers nearly 70% of the rain that India needs to water farms and replenish aquifers and reservoirs. Nearly half of India's farmland, which has no irrigation, depends on the annual June-September rains for crop growth. The monsoon has revived after a fortnight as a favorable weather system has developed in the Bay of Bengal, which would help the monsoon to cover entire central India this week, an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) told Reuters. Monsoon rains on Monday covered almost the entire western state of Maharashtra and entered into neighboring Gujarat and central state of Madhya Pradesh, the official said. The Monsoon's onset over Kerala occurred on May 24 and quickly covered southern, northeastern and some parts of western India ahead of its usual schedule, but its progress has stalled since May 29, according to an IMD chart that tracked the monsoon's progress. The monsoon has gained the required momentum, and heavy rainfall is likely over west coast, central and some parts of north India in next ten days, which will significantly bring down temperatures, another weather official said. India has received 31% lower rainfall than average in the first half of June, but in the second half the country is set to receive above average rainfall, the official said. Monsoon rains are set to progress quickly in the next few days and could cover most parts of the country before the end of June, the official said. Summer rains usually fall in Kerala around June 1 before spreading nationwide by mid-July, allowing farmers to plant crops such as rice, corn, cotton, soybeans and sugarcane.
