MENA smart cities putting people’s well-being first - salam
Salam - For a long time “smart city” meant faster systems, more sensors, and shiny tech. But new urban projects across the Middle East and North Africa are asking a deeper question: what should a smart city actually do for its residents?
At a recent global forum, experts kept mentioning AI and IoT, but the main point kept coming back to people. The idea now is human-centered change, not just gadgets. Aisha Bin Bishr, formerly of Dubai Digital Development Agency, said the key isn’t a single technology but trust in government. When authorities make clear, fair rules and share risks, the private sector will feel confident to invest in public-benefit projects. The real bottleneck, she says, is collaboration.
Likewise, Kate Barker, chief futurist for Saudi Arabia’s NEOM, stressed it’s a mindset issue. Real cooperation means co-design, not just consultation. Leaders must listen and agree on shared purpose. When success is measured by well-being instead of short-term targets, cities can create long-term value for their people.
If governments provide stable regulation and focus on people, the private sector brings innovation and capital. So the story in MENA isn’t only tech - it’s a new set of priorities like climate resilience, mental health, and community ties.
Think of technology as a city’s nervous system - useful for sensing and responding, but its goal should be to improve lives proactively. As Bin Bishr put it: the question isn’t what tech we buy, but whether it makes people happier, reduces inequality, and helps cope with climate change.
Across the region, projects are starting to measure success by happiness, health, and community. In NEOM’s vision, AI is more like a companion: an “AI twin” that helps monitor health and supports personal growth. Barker emphasises that a smart city should make residents feel seen, not watched, and should build belonging and psychological safety.
Leaders with empathy can use tech to enhance life, not just speed it up. Dubai’s initiatives to create regulatory sandboxes and give innovators direct access to policymakers are examples of removing friction for citizens and creators alike. The guiding question: does this technology make us more human or just more automated?
At the forum, human-centered robotics were celebrated for practical impact - robots used to reduce stress on workers and improve safety, not for novelty. The message is clear: tomorrow’s edge will come from using data to build resilience, inclusion, and happiness, not from raw volume of data.
The MENA region is positioning itself to build wiser cities that prioritize people. Barker argues the most powerful innovation here is leadership that combines ambition with humanity, showing that sustainable development is as much about social and emotional intelligence as it is about AI or automation.
In short: with trust, collaboration, and humane leadership, smart cities in our region can truly serve the needs of their communities - may Allah guide progress for the good of all.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/