Smart Dubai: Best Smart City Innovation Impact Global 2020

Smart Dubai takes a holistic approach to digital development, and it sets the bar high. The government department designs and delivers integrated cross-sector services, gearing innovation to the goal of creating the smartest and happiest city on Earth. Smart Dubai’s AI lab, established in partnership with IBM, turns the city into a testbed of innovation and solidifies its reputation as a global technology hub. The department aims for a seamless and secure experience for residents and visitors, and collaborates with public and private entities to harness the power of technology and data science. It unites government departments and industry leaders in a consolidated blockchain-based ecosystem, and has implemented 24 use-cases – situations in which a product or service could practically be employed – across eight industry sectors. Smart Dubai is pushing for the city to become paperless by 2021, phasing out government paper transactions in favour of a blockchain-powered system. Over the past two years, it’s an initiative that has resulted in significant savings: an estimated $197m in costs and millions of hours in labour — not to mention tens of thousands of trees. One of its apps, DubaiNow, puts over 120 city services from more than 30 government and private sector entities in the palm of a hand, with health and justice now included. Smart Dubai provides support to start-ups and entrepreneurs by hosting an annual global blockchain challenge, and it participates in accelerator programmes. The CFI.co judging panel declares Smart Dubai as the 2020 winner of the award for Best Smart City Innovation Impact (Global).