Majority of UAE residents happy to live in a smart city – study

Majority of UAE residents happy to live in a smart city – study

Nearly 80 percent of UAE residents say they'd be happy living in a smart city, a new survey has found.

The top three resident expectations of a smart city were environmentally friendly business practices, paperless government services, and fast, affordable, city-wide internet connectivity.

The study, titled Building the Cities of the Future, was a collaboration among Mastercard, Smart Dubai and Expo 2020 Dubai.

Elias Aad, vice president, head of strategic growth business, MENA, Mastercard.

"This study clearly highlights the importance and power of partnerships when it comes to developing smart cities and driving sustainable and inclusive growth. Consumers are clear about their expectations, and it is the responsibility of the private and public sectors to come together to build inclusive, dynamic cities,“ said Elias Aad, vice president, head of strategic growth business, MENA, Mastercard.

Dubai has said it wants to become the happiest city on the planet, a goal the trio says is closely aligned with the study's finding that 79 percent of UAE residents would be happy living in a smart city. Dubai has also been ranked as the best smart centre in the Arab world for development of creativity, innovation and delivery of new technology, according to the second edition of the Smart