Dubai has achieved a new milestone in its efforts to reduce carbon emissions, in getting certified by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. C40 is a leading global network of cities committed to tackling climate change and protecting the planet. The network was established in 2005, and includes 75 major cities that have worked to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions through sharing knowledge and best practices among themselves.

Dubai has been rated as one of the top five cities in using smart technology to better the lives of its residents, according to the latest Smart Cities Index.

Dubai has expressed its aspirations to become the next FinTech hub. The city has enjoyed decades of rapid growth - and has developed its infrastructure to become a key business center which has now firmly switched its focus towards the FinTech sector.

Mr. Wesam Lootah, CEO, Smart Dubai Government Establishment has outlined some of the key initiatives that Smart Dubai have launched in its attempts to make Dubai the happiest city in the world.

Mr. Lootah was speaking at the 7th annual Telecom Review Summit where he gave a brilliant insight into Smart Dubai’s on-going vision for the city in an informative, engaging and fascinating presentation. He highlighted the importance of the introduction of a ‘happiness meter’ which he said was giving everyone in the region a voice to shape the city they want to live in. The happiness meter subsequently provides key decision makers, city leaders and director generals with critical information about what impact their services are having on residents - and gives them feedback on whether or not the strategies they’ve executed are the correct ones for the city.

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Dubai Chamber) highlighted the readiness of its array of seamless smart services which are available to the business community to conduct their work easily and efficiently.

In this modern era of big data, it's important to have a central platform to house all government information, said His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, at the launch of the Smart Dubai 2021 framework and Smart Dubai's new central government platform to house big data: Dubai Pulse. His Highness said Dubai Pulse is a platform that "taps into the potential of artificial intelligence to spread happiness among people."

Industry leaders say Dubai is now a global pioneer for the use of autonomous vehicles as part of a futuristic transport network.  

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) have announced that it has entered into negotiations with a number of French-based companies in relation to the possibility of installing 'smart light poles and solar roads. Dubai is one of the most progressive and technologically driven cities in the entire world, and has its own dedicated government led initiative entitled Smart Dubai.

The Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) has announced the launch of the Dubai Cyber Think Tank, which aims to develop solutions to prevent cyberattacks and threats.

The UAE is a world-renowned leader in adopting smart city technologies and since the novel coronavirus struck the entire world, there has been no better time than now to leverage the opportunities that emerging technologies brings into our lives.

Dubai Mall retailers have been offered an e-commerce solution in an effort to support the retail industry amid COVID-19 and its impact on businesses.

Dubai is fast moving toward achieving its goal of becoming the world's first government to execute all implementable transactions on blockchain by 2020, an international expert on blockchain has said.

Dubai Municipality has launched its urban development report titled, “Cities’ Livability in the Age of Global Citizenship,” setting an innovative benchmark for creating sustainable, future-ready cities capable of addressing global challenges.

The Dubai Police General HQ has launched the "Oyoon" (Eyes) project which aims to create an integrated security system using sophisticated technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) features to prevent crime, reduce traffic related deaths and negative incidents.

Dubai Police and Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate in areas that empower, deliver and promote an efficient, seamless, safe and impactful city experience for residents making Dubai the smartest and happiest city globally. Under this agreement, a Smart Police Station will be developed at the company's flagship new Dubai Community, Tilal Al Ghaf, as part of its innovative Smart Districts plan.

Crown Prince of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum opened the second Smart Police Station (SPS) in Dubai at La Mer, Jumeirah, a year after Dubai's first SPS was inaugurated last September at City Walk.

RTA's Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) has launched "Al Yamama" initiative where DTC's taxis will be fitted with smart cameras. These cameras will monitor the movement of the taxi driver and objects in the interior and exterior of the vehicle.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved an initiative called 'A Day without Service Centers'. Launched by Dubai Department of Finance (DOF), the initiative aims to encourage customers to turn to smart channels to obtain and complete government services and transactions.

Dubai Urban Tech District, located on the creekside of the Al Jaddaf area, will become home to the most innovative entrepreneurs while creating 4,000 jobs in green urban tech, education and training.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has joined the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution of the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a partner. DEWA is the first government utility to join the San Francisco-based center, which includes international organizations such as Microsoft, SAP, and ABB. This is part of DEWA’s efforts to keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and develop disruptive technologies in power and water.