February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

A smart city is an urban area that integrates information and communication technologies (ICT), Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, data analytics, and artificial intelligence into its infrastructure and services to improve operational efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life. Smart city applications span transportation, energy management, waste collection, public safety, healthcare delivery, and government services. The concept emphasizes data-driven decision-making and citizen-centric design in urban planning and governance.

UAE Context

The UAE is a global leader in smart city development, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi implementing comprehensive digital transformation strategies. Dubai launched the Smart Dubai initiative in 2014, aiming to become the world’s smartest city through paperless government, blockchain-enabled services, autonomous transport, and AI-powered city management. Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City represents a purpose-built smart and sustainable urban development. Across the UAE, smart city infrastructure includes connected traffic systems, digital government platforms, smart grid energy management, and AI-enhanced public safety systems. The UAE’s compact geography and centralized governance structure enable rapid deployment of smart technologies at national scale.

Key Data

  • Key initiatives: Smart Dubai, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi Smart Solutions
  • Government digitization: Over 90 percent of federal government services available online
  • Technology pillars: IoT, AI, blockchain, autonomous transport, digital twin
  • Global rankings: Dubai and Abu Dhabi consistently rank among top smart cities globally
  • Infrastructure: 5G coverage, national fiber-optic network, smart grid systems

Significance for Vision 2031

Smart city development is a core pillar of the We the UAE 2031 vision, directly supporting goals for government efficiency, sustainability, and global competitiveness. The national agenda targets fully digital government services, AI-integrated urban management, and world-leading quality of life metrics. Smart city infrastructure provides the platform for deploying innovations in mobility, energy, healthcare, and education at scale.

  • AI Strategy - National artificial intelligence development plans
  • Blockchain - Distributed ledger technology for smart services
  • Smart Government - Digital transformation of public services
  • CleanTech - Sustainable technology for urban environments