Global Scans · Smart cities · Weekly Summary

• [New] The vision to 2045 is to build a comprehensive smart city model linked to green growth and modern governance. Nhan Dan Online
• [New] Cities like Berlin and Munich are expected to implement pilot projects that include air taxis as part of smart city transportation. Precedence Research
• [New] Expanding next-generation connectivity and ICT infrastructure (projected to reach AED 192 billion in 2025) creates significant opportunities in smart cities, utilities, logistics, real-time monitoring, and IoT-based service platforms. LOGIC Consulting - A Leading MENA Consulting Firm
• [New] Government leadership recognizes blockchain technology's potential to establish the Emirates as a global hub for digital economy activities extending beyond financial services into supply chain management, digital identity, and smart city applications. CoinRank
• [New] Organisers emphasise that air taxis are not a gimmick and believe they will leave an Olympic legacy of a different kind, where the smart city blueprint could be adopted by other countries within a decade. Goodwood Estate
• [New] Digital China's next stage will be won in Smart Cities. Digital China Wins the Future
• [New] Drone and robot logistics, as well as smart city traffic control, are growing, presenting significant opportunities for companies with autonomous driving experience, such as Hyundai Motor Company and KT. / UAE SMART CITY KOREA
• [New] India's future smart cities will thrive not on visible technology but on well-functioning, robust utility systems that support growth and attract investors. Prop News Time
• [New] Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 includes a $500 billion NEOM smart city project, designed to be a global innovation hub powered entirely by renewable energy. Forbes
• The projects launching and completing over 2026 will demonstrate whether smart city technologies can deliver on their promises of improved efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life. / USA CCE l ONLINE NEWS
• Researchers at IIT-Indore have developed an Urban Flood Risk Monitoring Application aimed at improving the flood resilience of Indian smart cities. The Times Of India
• The Colorado town of Vail will become the first US municipality to implement HPE's new agentic AI smart city solution. IoT M2M Council
• Europe and Asia-Pacific are expected to follow with robust growth driven by urbanization, smart-city initiatives, infrastructure security and increasing commercial drone adoption. Market.us Scoop
• Smart city investment in North America is projected to reach $750 billion by 2026, up from $3 trillion in 2017. CCE l ONLINE NEWS
• Denver's smart city evolution centers on Pena Station NEXT, a transit-oriented, mixed-use development expected to be completed in 2026. CCE l ONLINE NEWS
• Expected commercially around 2028, 6G will deliver immersive, cloud-based AI-enabled communications across smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and industrial IoT systems. aipix.ai
• For 2026, we expect continued momentum, especially as AI becomes more context-aware and further integrated across mission-critical verticals such as venues and smart cities. asmag.com
• At the 2025 Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, experts from three continents agreed that building resilient mobility systems will define the success of smart cities in years and decades to come. Zag Daily
• Build4Asia 2026 will introduce two new dedicated sectors - Asian PropTech and Asian Office Tech - as part of its expanded focus on smart-city development. Construction World Magazine
• The UAE has advanced smart-city initiatives and digital governance, backed by NCEMA, the 2019 National DRR Strategy, the National Strategy for Food Security 2051, and the Dubai Resilience Center, to sustain momentum and service reliability under We the UAE 2031 and UAE Net Zero 2050. Middle East Business News and Information - mid-east.in
• Tehran's potential relocation could inspire adaptive strategies worldwide, from smart city planning to climate-resilient infrastructure. WebProNews
• The coming five to ten years will likely see the Middle East solidify its position as a global technology hub, with particular strengths in artificial intelligence, fintech, and smart city technologies. #1 Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, F
• Ultra-reliable low-latency communication is a key feature of 5G that enables real-time applications, and by 2027, over 80% of smart city applications will depend on it. PatentPC

Last updated: 29 December 2025