Smart cities

Major engineering company GS E&C has secured footholds for expanding its data center and smart city projects in Vietnam on the back of President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to the country last week. The construction arm of GS Group on Wednesday met representatives of FPT Corp., the largest private IT company in Vietnam and the country’s data center market leader by volume. The meeting in Hanoi brought together GS E&C President and CEO Huh Yoon-hong and FPT CEO Nguyen Van Khoa. The two signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on data center development and smart city construction in Vietnam. Drawing on the Korean firm’s more than 20 years of experience in the data center business, the companies agreed to cooperate to support Vietnam’s digital economy growth and nationwide digital transformation. GS E&C said the data centers will be built in key regions across Vietnam with an initial capacity of tens of megawatts each. The facilities’ efficiency will be secured through modular

The countries of the region this year will approve such Russian initiatives as the development of drought monitoring systems in Central Asia using geospatial technologies, and the integration of digital solutions into urban transport systems in the Asia-Pacific region, Alexander Alimov said

Kirill Logvinov cited the Sakhalin Region as an example

The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) will cooperate with 11 countries, starting with Uzbekistan, to support the overseas expansion of K-Smart City.KOTRA and MOLIT announced on April 19 that they held the ‘Uzbekistan Smart

Korea will carry out pilot projects to test smart city technologies based on artificial intelligence (AI) in five Southeast Asian countries, aimed at helping address urban challenges and support domestic firms' global expansions, the land ministry said Monday. The ministry said it has selected six projects to be carried out in five countries under its 2026 K-City Network program, an initiative that supports the application of domestic smart city projects. In Brunei, an AI-based smart city platform will be tested to improve water management and disaster response, while a smart traffic management system will help optimize traffic signals in Bacoor of the Philippines. Projects in Vietnam will help introduce on-demand transport services in Ho Chi Minh City and deploy AI-based smart intersection control systems in Can Tho to improve traffic flow. Additional projects include implementing a safety management solution for aging buildings in Surin, Thailand, and deploying a traffic management

A new study tracking global progress on child mortality finds that the world will miss a key United Nations (UN) health target by at least five years at current rates, with the burden falling heavily on Sub-Saharan Africa. The UN's Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 calls for all countries to reduce the mortality rate for children under 5 to fewer than 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030. As that deadline approaches, there has been no comprehensive assessment of where countries stand. The findings are published in PLOS One by Min Liu of Peking University, Beijing, China, and colleagues.

NEOM, backed by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), has exercised a “termination for convenience” clause on the contract to construct three dams to feed a freshwater lake and an architectural structure called 'The Bow' The post Saudi Arabia’s NEOM cancels key Trojena dam project appeared first on Gulf Business.

Neom cancels contracts on construction at The Line and Trojena  DezeenSaudi Arabia Halts Yearslong Effort to Bring Skiing to the Desert  WSJSaudi Arabia is building a 1.7-mile-long artificial lake in the middle of the desert, featuring three giant dams and a $4.7 billion investment, which will yield 90,000 cubic meters of water per week without significantly impacting the environment  ECOticias.comNeom Scraps Steel Contract With Malaysia Firm on Mideast Crisis  Bloomberg.comNeom cancels $5bn Trojena dam and lake contract  Arabian Gulf Business Insight | AGBI

Neom cancels contracts on construction at The Line and Trojena  DezeenSaudi Arabia Halts Yearslong Effort to Bring Skiing to the Desert  WSJSaudi Arabia is building a 1.7-mile-long artificial lake in the middle of the desert, featuring three giant dams and a $4.7 billion investment, which will yield 90,000 cubic meters of water per week without significantly impacting the environment  ECOticias.comNeom Scraps Steel Contract With Malaysia Firm on Mideast Crisis  Bloomberg.comNeom cancels $5bn Trojena dam and lake contract  Arabian Gulf Business Insight | AGBI

Jun Zhang and colleagues have published a new article in Urban Geography arguing that urban AI should not be understood as a single, inevitable next stage of the smart city. Instead, it shows that AI urbanism is a contested political and discursive formation—a set of truth-claims about what AI is, what it can do, and why it should govern.

Nvidia and T-Mobile partner to launch AI-RAN infrastructure, bringing high-performance physical AI and vision agents to the network edge. Importance Rank:  1 read more

The agreement was signed in Paris on September 5, 2008

Beam Global (NASDAQ:BEEM) is one of the best EV stocks to buy according to analysts. On February 12, Beam Global announced a strong start to 2026 with over $1 million in smart cities infrastructure sales generated within a single week across the Balkans. The sales include a variety of essential infrastructure solutions, such as public […]

The commission will celebrate as much as 79th anniversary this March

According to Kirill Logvinov, to truly achieve the SDGs, the world requires additional investments of $4 trillion annually

As countries strive to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, a new international study published in Nature Communications brings together 19 researchers in 13 institutions—including Jianguo "Jack" Liu, Rachel Carson Chair in Sustainability and director of Michigan State University's Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability (CSIS), former CSIS Ph.D student Zhenci Xu and two former CSIS visiting students Zhimeng Jiang and Xutong Wu—to present a comprehensive framework for understanding and managing cross-scale socioeconomic and environmental interconnections and feedback.

The landmark 1.5GW renewable-powered facility at Oxagon signals the Kingdom’s accelerating investment in AI infrastructure, sustainable computing and next-generation digital cities

Central Asian governments are forging ahead with ambitious “smart city” mega-projects to tackle rapid population growth and ageing Soviet-era infrastructure. They are also pulling in much-needed foreign investment, and China’s strong visibility in these projects – while Russia is notably absent – is fuelling debate over whether the region is trying to reduce its economic dependence on Moscow. It comes as competition among major powers in Central Asia is intensifying, with the US-led C5+1...

In contemporary urban landscapes, mega-mobility systems stand as a cornerstone of the evolution towards smart cities. By integrating extensive transportation networks, advanced communication frameworks, and resilient energy circuits, these systems embody organizations characterized by “organized complexity.” They are not constrained by one-dimensional growth but exhibit features such as adaptive openness, nonlinear dynamics, hierarchical structures, and […]

The event was originally awarded to Saudi Arabia, with plans to host it at Trojena The post Almaty to host 2029 Asian Winter Games after Neom delay appeared first on Gulf Business.

For residents of European cities—with their snarled traffic, drafty old buildings, creaking public services and gray winters—it's easy to see the appeal of moving to a brand-new, high-tech metropolis.

Saudi Arabia’s The Line project shifts from a massive residential city to an AI-focused industrial hub due to costs, climate, and fiscal pressures.

As the world approaches the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with fewer than 1 in 5 targets on track, researchers warn that the next global framework risks repeating the same mistakes unless it is built on a clear and explicit theory of change.

A better approach is needed to assess potential impact and feasibility of proposals

A new international study calls for a fundamental reset in how humanity understands and pursues sustainable development. The article is published in the journal Communications Sustainability.

With only five years until the 2030 deadline for achieving the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a new international study reveals uneven progress in achieving the goals since their adoption in 2015.

Doha, Dec 15 (SANA) Minister of Public Works and Housing Mustafa Abdul Razzaq held meetings on Monday with senior Qatari officials and representatives of key public and private institutions to advance cooperation in housing, infrastructure, smart cities, and real estate development. The meetings took place on the sidelines of the 42nd session of the Council […]

European Union countries are progressing toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but not at the same pace.

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland gives prisoners in Finland a voice in the current sustainability transformation debate, showing that their perceptions of sustainable development vary greatly, ranging from individual everyday actions to global environmental issues.

A new report from Springer Nature, in partnership with Overton, offers the most comprehensive picture yet of how academic research is influencing real-world policy tied to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This partnership reinforces both companies’ shared vision of sustainable growth, innovation, and capacity building within Saudi Arabia’s construction ecosystem The post ROSHN Group and Geberit International Sales AG sign strategic collaboration framework to advance sustainable development in Saudi Arabia appeared first on Gulf Business.

The discussion will focus on strengthening Russian-Chinese ties and on regional cooperation where Yakutia and China's provinces are forming new growth points

Nurlan Yermekbayev said that it is the SDG agenda, one of the UN priorities at the current stage, that acts as "a consolidating factor for the world community"

Nurlan Yermekbayev said that this is a serious issue that requires expert discussion, taking into account the positions and interests of each SCO country

The success of the United Nations' global sustainability targets is often measured through economic growth—but what about how people feel and live?

In recent years, the intersection of technology and sustainability has become crucial in shaping modern urban environments. With a steady evolution in science and technology, cities can now integrate green technology and advanced information systems to enhance their sustainability and efficiency. This transformation toward low-carbon, intelligent, and ecological cities serves not only to improve urban […]

Eight global millennium development goals were established in 2000 by member states of the United Nations (UN) and endorsed by other multilateral organizations. They ranged from eliminating hunger to empowering women, and from reducing child mortality to environmental sustainability.

Spanning the endless sands of northwest Saudi Arabia, NEOM is more than an audacious city vision—it’s ground zero for the…

Syrian Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Kabawat discussed with her Lebanese counterpart Haneen al-Sayed the importance of sustainable development as a key factor in creating the necessary conditions for the return of Syrian refugees from Lebanon. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the World Summit for Social Development in Doha, and focused on mobilizing support to enhance social and economic stability in host […]

Cities worldwide are becoming smarter. Integrated system tools technologies are used to capture and analyze real-time data to

Floods are becoming more severe across the Asia-Pacific, driven by the mounting effects of climate change. Nine of the 15 nations most affected by extreme weather are in this region. According to a study commissioned by the Asia Development Bank in 2012, up to 410 million urban dwellers and 341 million inland residents are at risk of coastal flooding in Asia. Sudden-onset events like flash floods are especially frequent in densely populated cities, where impermeable surfaces, constrained...

Syria’s Interior Minister, Anas Khattab, met on Tuesday with a delegation from the UN Women’s Advisory Board (WAB) to discuss enhancing cooperation in sustainable developmental and security fields, according to a statement from the Ministry of Interior. The talks focused on ‘’strengthening institutional performance, supporting sustainable development, and advancing human rights collaboration’’ the statement read. […]

The General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research in Syria signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday with the International Commission for Relief and Development (Ansar) to enhance cooperation in the fields of scientific research, sustainable development, and humanitarian support. The memorandum outlines plans to implement agricultural and development projects aimed at supporting agricultural sustainability, humanitarian […]

Sam Altman's alleged ties to Saudi Arabia's NEOM project spark questions over transparency and AI ethics.

On May 10, 2025, Air Products and Chemicals quietly revamped its earnings outlook and reshuffled its hydrogen production game plan.…

Engineer Hamzeh Awwad, CEO of AJi Group, shares how the firm is reshaping the Gulf’s infrastructure landscape through innovation, sustainability, and smart design The post AJi Group’s Hamzeh Awwad on its regional growth and the future of smart cities appeared first on Gulf Business.

Once completed, the venue is expected to host over 200 performances annually, spanning theatre, music, digital art, and international productions The post Qiddiya awards $1.4bn contract for performing arts centre appeared first on Gulf Business.

Claire chatted to competitors, exhibitors, and attendees at the Smart City Robotics Competition in Milton Keynes. This bonus episode was sponsored by euRobotics, an international non-profit association that aims to boost European robotics research, development, and innovation.

Land Minister Kim Yun-duk on Monday held talks with his Saudi counterpart to discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation in urban development, smart cities and digital twin technologies, officials said. The meeting was arranged at the request of Majed Al-Hogail, the visiting Saudi housing minister, who proposed strengthening cooperation in smart city initiatives currently being promoted by the Seoul's land ministry. During the meeting, Kim highlighted Korea's integrated smart city platform technology, which links the information systems of local governments, fire and police departments to enable a real-time response to emergencies such as fires and accidents. He also expressed hope that Korean companies will actively participate in Saudi Arabia's large-scale urban development projects, including the US$50 billion New Murabba redevelopment initiative in Riyadh. Al-Hogail said he hopes to incorporate digital technologies into Saudi urban management through cooperation with Korea,

Kazakhstan is moving to position itself as a Central Asian hub for innovation and digital finance through the ambitious Alatau City Project, with the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Bozumbayev Kanat calling for stronger partnerships with Korea in areas from smart city development to renewable energy and healthcare. Speaking at an international investment roadshow titled “Alatau Rise with Kazakhstan” in Seoul, Wednesday, Bozumbayev said the Kazakh government is pursuing a comprehensive strategy to transform its urban and economic landscape through advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics and digital finance. “The new framework aims to protect investment capital and ensure transparent capital flow,” he said, noting that a special fiscal regime covering taxation, budgetary arrangements and cooperation with international funders will simplify business regulations and strengthen investor confidence. He added that the urban innovation drive “has

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were established in 2015 to address some of the world's most pressing problems. The 17 goals include 169 targets such as eradicating poverty, reducing inequality and acting on climate, in service of peace, prosperity and environmental sustainability.

Construction contracts worth $24bn have now been awarded for Saudi Arabia’s Neom project and sub-projects, according to property consultancy Knight Frank. They include $470m for Magna, $3.31bn for Trojena –… The post $24bn in contracts awarded for Saudi’s Neom appeared first on Global Construction Review.

Syrian Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Mohammad Anjarani, met Thursday with a delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Damascus to discuss prospects for joint cooperation. The talks focused on building effective partnerships in areas of mutual interest, particularly in training and capacity-building to support sustainable development. Both sides emphasized the importance […]

In this article, we discuss the best smart city stocks to buy. Cities are bracing for a year of significant changes as new federal guidelines and emerging technologies mix with ongoing challenges. A new presidential administration in 2025 was expected to highlight new priorities and change some existing programs, which would affect the funding cities […]

Isfahan balances urban development and smart city initiatives with heritage preservation, integrating modern infrastructure and digital innovation while safeguarding its rich cultural legacy.

Blink Charging Co. (NASDAQ:BLNK) is one of the best Robinhood penny stocks to invest in. On September 2, the company’s continued expansion in the UK market received a significant boost as it continues to secure partnerships with local authorities, businesses, and property developers for EV charging infrastructure, Flowbird Smart City UK is the latest to […]

Thailand aims to use Hong Kong’s status as a global financial centre to raise funds for a new smart city in its flagship economic development zone, according to the head of the megaproject’s public agency. Chula Sukmanop, secretary general of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office, also dismissed accusations that Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative was a debt trap, highlighting benefits such as the thousands of jobs it had created for Thai people in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. The Eastern...

You don’t see mega-fabs like this every day. In the windswept desert north of the Red Sea, NEOM’s Oxagon hub…

Timely information on a company's production activities is crucial for investors and policymakers, yet it remains scarce as financial reports and other broader economic indicators like the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) are only released periodically. This information lag makes it difficult to assess a company's operational health in real time.

Using a groundbreaking dataset that encompasses over 415 million buildings across 50 sub-Saharan African nations, researchers at the University of Chicago have developed a novel framework for urban development that scrutinizes infrastructure accessibility at an unprecedented level. This influential study, recently published in the distinguished journal Nature, analyzes the infrastructure gaps in rapidly developing countries, […]

Using the first complete dataset of more than 415 million buildings across 50 countries in sub‐Saharan Africa, researchers at the University of Chicago created an unprecedented approach to urban development, down to each street block.

One region in the plans is dubbed "The Elon Musk Smart Manufacturing Zone."

SCO members also supported the holding of a Regional Climate Summit in the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2026 with the support of the UN

The long-running debate over the ideal city size has an answer, with a new study pinpointing the "magic number" of residents where sustainability and livability peak. The paper is published in the journal npj Urban Sustainability.

A recent review published in “Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems” sheds light on the escalating issue of missing traffic data within intelligent transportation systems. As urban centers increasingly deploy sensors and advanced technologies to optimize traffic management, they confront a significant challenge—data gaps that arise from sensor malfunctions, communication interruptions, and adverse environmental conditions. Such […]

The convergence of technology and urban development has given rise to the dynamic and rapidly evolving concept of “smart cities,” which stands at the forefront of contemporary scientific inquiry. As cities worldwide grapple with the multifaceted challenges of urbanization, environmental sustainability, infrastructure demands, and social inclusivity, the smart city paradigm promises to harness advanced technologies […]

Hong Kong has ranked eighth globally in a smart cities index by a local university, outperforming many of its peers in Asia, including Seoul and Singapore. Polytechnic University published the International Society for Urban Informatics (ISUI) Smart City Index 2025 on Wednesday, with Hong Kong performing strongly in areas such as economy and governance, but struggling in terms of infrastructure and other categories. Hong Kong was the second-highest performing Asian city in the ranking at eighth...

The UN secretary-general and the president of Kazakhstan held talks in Almaty and signed an agreement on the UN regional hub, which is meant to strengthen cooperation in Central Asia and support Afghanistan’s sustainable development.

Saudi Arabia’s high-profile gigaproject Neom is considering laying off more than 1,000 staff and moving another 1,000 from the site’s headquarters in the remote northwest of the country to Riyadh,… The post Neom considering plan to move 1,000 staff from project headquarters: report appeared first on Global Construction Review.

Back in mid-May 2025, Hyundai Motor Company, alongside NEOM and its energy arm Enowa, made waves with a high-altitude demo…

The announcement also marks the public reveal of Adeera’s distinct portfolio of Saudi-born hotel brands The post PIF-backed Adeera to manage Qiddiya City hotels in Saudi appeared first on Gulf Business.

Climate-related wildfires are once again making headlines as they rage across the Northern Hemisphere this summer. New IIASA research shows that addressing social and economic vulnerabilities across countries will be a key factor in mitigating the scale of resulting financial damage and emphasizes sustainable development as key to reducing climate-related impacts.

Pavegen, a UK-based clean technology company pioneering energy and data generation, on July 29 announced it has been selected to deliver a flagship installation at Cyberport 5, part of the HK$3.7 billion ($472 million) expansion of Cyberport, Hong Kong’s government-owned Innovation & Technology (I&T) hub. Installation is scheduled for September, ahead of the site’s full […] The post Pavegen Chosen for Cyberport 5 Smart City Expansion in Hong Kong appeared first on POWER Magazine.

When solving those problems, it is necessary to act together, Titov noted

arXiv:2507.15143v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: This paper investigates the feasibility of human mobility in The Line, a proposed 170-kilometer linear smart city in NEOM, Saudi Arabia. To assess whether citizens can move freely within this unprecedented urban topology, we develop a hybrid simulation framework that integrates agent-based modeling, reinforcement learning, supervised learning, and graph neural networks. The simulation captures multi-modal transportation behaviors across 50 vertical levels and varying density scenarios using both synthetic data and real-world traces from high-density cities. Our experiments reveal that with the full AI-integrated architecture, agents achieved an average commute time of 7.8 to 8.4 minutes, a satisfaction rate exceeding 89 percent, and a reachability index of over 91 percent, even during peak congestion periods. Ablation studies confirmed that the removal of intelligent modules such as reinforcement learning or graph neural networks

Qiddiya City will integrate entertainment, sports, and cultural landmarks with residential, commercial and hospitality offerings The post Saudi’s Qiddiya City unveils Faldo-designed golf course and joins global Faldo Series appeared first on Gulf Business.

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has asked consultants to review the feasibility of its “The Line” gigaproject, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The Public Investment Fund has asked unnamed firms to… The post Saudi Arabia hires consultants to probe feasibility of $500bn ‘The Line’ appeared first on Global Construction Review.

Toyota is most known for its automobiles, but the company also created a smart city with pretty lofty goals, situated in a very particular location.

. @iNet_KSA is supporting the growth of the Kingdom's fintech sector by becoming a part of @ACI_Worldwide's RPS for Postilion programme. The post iNet Aligns With Saudi Vision 2030 Through ACI Worldwide Partnership Expansion appeared first on The Fintech Times.

NCI’s Amanda Miranda de Andrade explains how a new project aims to boost skills development to achieve resilient smart cities of the future. Read more: NCI joins EU smart city project to develop digital solutions and skills

Eastern Market could soon become mobility hub as Toyota's Sustainable Cities Challenge rolls on with the announcement of four finalists in Detroit's Eastern Market. Detroit Announces Finalists in Sustainable Cities Challenge, Winner To Be Named Next Year from Car-Revs-Daily.com. Carl Malek See latest articles at https://www.car-revs-daily.com

In a world where over a billion smartphones are produced yearly, a team of researchers is flipping the script on electronic waste. Instead of tossing out older phones, they ve demonstrated a groundbreaking approach: turning outdated smartphones into micro data centers. This low-cost innovation (just 8 euros per phone) offers practical applications from tracking bus passengers to monitoring marine life without needing new tech.

When it comes to carbon emissions, there's no bigger foe than the building and construction sectors, which contribute at least a third of global greenhouse gases.

In an era where sustainable development goals (SDGs) are pivotal to shaping the future of urban environments globally, a groundbreaking study has emerged that redefines the lens through which we view the Arctic’s unique challenges. The research, led by Soroudi, A., Aboagye, P.D., Ma, J., and colleagues, delves deeply into the intricate process of downscaling […]

Urban sustainability remains one of the most pressing challenges facing contemporary societies, demanding innovative governance frameworks that transcend traditional planning paradigms. In a recent breakthrough published in npj Urban Sustainability, researchers Rodela, Williams, Ohlsson, and their colleagues introduce a transformative approach centered on care-centric planning and governance. Their work delineates six carefully articulated propositions designed […]

Each night in the darkest hours, a fleet of drones patrols the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing, watching over potentially dodgy areas such as underground station exits and the riverside to deter any would-be criminals. The nightly routine has been operating since last year, according to a report published in April by the city’s police bureau, which detailed its use of artificial intelligence to plan patrol routes. According to the report, the AI puts a laser focus on patrolling Nanjing’s blind...

 Damascus, SANA- Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Eng. Mohammad Anjarani, discussed Monday with the The United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, means of enhancing cooperation and exchanging experiences. The talks dealt with building relationships based on credibility and transparency, and enhancing cooperation with the international community, while transferring expertise …

On May 22, Iveda Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:IVDA) announced it has initiated its smart city rollout in Manila, Philippines, which is the 8th most populated city worldwide. The initial contract is valued at $180,000 and marks the first phase of the company’s greater $3 million smart city initiative for the region. Iveda Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:IVDA) is […]

In the race to build smarter, more connected urban environments, a recent study sheds light on how such transformations intersect with the pursuit of sustainable development goals (SDGs). As cities across the United States increasingly adopt technologies intended to enhance efficiency, connectivity, and quality of life, understanding the tangible outcomes linked to these smart initiatives […]

As the wave of digital transformation sweeps across the globe, the concept of the “smart city” stands out as a beacon of promise and potential, particularly in regions grappling with rapid urbanization and socio-economic complexities. A compelling new study meticulously unpacks the current landscape of smart city governance within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), […]

Abu Dhabi-based Bold Technologies, a subsidiary of conglomerate Bold Holdings, has partnered with international artificial intelligence company My Aion to launch a $2.5 billion smart-city initiative aimed at transforming urban infrastructure through AI.The companies announced the development of a platform called Aion Sentia Cognitive City, which manages complex urban systems. The platform will be powered by Maia, an AI core engine developed by My Aion, and aims to optimize and manage systems across mobility, energy, education, healthcare and digital services.  My Aion CEO Daniele Marinelli said the AI will know the user well enough to “recommend the perfect place for your anniversary dinner and book it for you without you lifting a finger.” The project will debut in Abu Dhabi before expanding internationally. It is expected to launch in 18 months.