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Middle East: Smart cities shaping the future

Dubai's business bay towers at sunset

As private-led investments continue to build across the region, the Middle East makes headways in becoming a global smart, and sustainable, city hub.

 

Middle East countries ranked

#13United Arab Emirates
#21Saudi Arabia
#34Oman
#35Kuwait
#38Turkiye
#42Qatar
#50Iran

Funding for the Middle East’s large-scale projects remain heavily state-financed, but the share of private finance is slowly, but steadily, increasing. Supportive PPP legislation in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and soon Saudi Arabia is set to increase investor confidence and support the region’s economic diversification.

In particular the Middle East has presented some of the most ambitious solar and onshore wind projects, closing a pipeline of over 2.8GW according to inspiratia. The region – collectively and individually – is putting renewable energy at the centre of it growth agenda as well as to fuel its smart city ambitions.