Smart Dubai has broken ground on the first phase of implementing the Dubai Paperless Strategy, which seeks to digitise internal and external transactions at government entities and save time and effort for employees and customers alike.

Smart Dubai has concluded another successful participation in GITEX Technology Week, where it showcased its main strategies, services, and initiatives that seek to cement Dubai's global lead in the smart city sector.

Smart Dubai is organizing a trip for Happiness Champions from various government entities in Dubai to attend a training course on the 'Quality of Service' at the Disney Institute in Orlando, USA.

The Smart Dubai Office (SDO) took home the prestigious City Project Award for the Dubai Blockchain Strategy at the Smart Cities Expo & World Congress, which took place in Barcelona, Spain, on November 14-16, 2017. The Strategy won first place following fierce competition against 308 projects from 58 countries.

The smartest cities in the US have been formally announced following weeks of public voting in a survey conducted by IDC Government Insights. Over 3,000 votes were cast in the inaugural IDC Smart Cities North America. (SCNAA)

South Korea, one of the prominent countries leading the charge towards the commercialization of 5G networks has conducted one of the world's first ever 5G auctions.

Central and local governments in South Korea plan are working on a system to track cases of Coronavirus through the use of data and surveillance.

India's innovative bid to establish 100 'smart cities' in an effort to support the country's rapid growing urban population may well have a detrimental impact on the environment. A major study conducted by the University of Lincoln in the UK has stated that city planners needed to place a greater emphasis on supporting infrastructure and utilities if they want to avoid the likely prospect of harming the environment.

Swedish network provider Blink Services, which provides LoRaWAN for 'smart city' solutions has announced that it has selected its partner for its nationwide Internet of Things program. Multi-Tech Systems has been chosen by the Swedish firm after an intensive vetting process. It has been reported that Multi-Tech's close working relationship and shared partnership with French LPWAN organization Actility played a significant role in the company earning the contract.

India’s Tata Communications has revealed its launch for an IoT marketplace which is aimed at linking enterprise customers with IoT service providers through a single platform in an effort to accelerate the country’s growing IoT ecosystem.

Thailand has announced its ambitious aim of introducing broadband access to every village in the country by 2018. The Thailand government has recognized the power of the digital economy in terms of creating innovation - which can significantly reduce the gap between rich and poor in the region. It has declared its long-term commitment to embracing technology and will attempt to bring connectivity to even the most remote parts of Thailand.

The Sustainable City, the Middle East's first fully operational sustainable community, revealed the results of one year of monitoring at the city during WETEX 2017, which ran from 23rd to 25th October at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Sustainable City, a joint venture between Diamond Developers and SEE Nexus, participated at WETEX for the second consecutive year with the biggest stand at the exhibition, which took place under the theme 'At the Forefront of Sustainability'.

US technology colossus Google is courting controversy in Toronto over its plans to construct a new digital city in Toronto's Eastern waterfront, in a regeneration project described as being a model of 21st century urbanism.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) revealed that the number of data systems provided in cooperation with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and other government entities on bayanat.ae has reached more than 500 systems, covering various educational, health, environment and other fields. TRA said that this achievement is the result of cooperation with the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority and more than 36 federal and local entities, to enhance the UAE strategic direction towards digital transformation, keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and utilize data in finding innovative solutions to future challenges.

The 2^nd edition of Smart Cities World Forums was held on December 11^th at the Meydan Hotel, Dubai, UAE, under the theme “Building the SMART Future”. The event offered the attendees the opportunity to know more about all aspects of smart cities and meet leaders in this particular field. Smart Cities World Forums spoke to Eng. Mohammed Alsharif, Program Director Madinah Smart City, AlMadinah AlMunawara Development Authority, who explained the Authority’s role in accelerating digital transformation in the Kingdom.

Government and private entities signed a number of MoUs to implement and activate the UAE Pass, during a forum organized by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) and Smart Dubai.

Uber have announced that it will resume its ride-hailing services in Taiwan following a series of successful talks with island authorities. The US firm suspended its services in the region after being hit with a series of fines and penalties after government figures claimed that Uber was misrepresenting itself by claiming to be a technology platform and not a transportation company. However, after a number of ‘constructive talks' Uber have ended its two-month suspension on services in Taiwan.

Digital Catapult which is a leading UK digital innovation firm has issued an open call for prospective partners to help it extend its Internet of Things network across the United Kingdom. The firm which specializes in accelerating the application of digital technologies - has expressed its ambition to enhance the capabilities of the services it currently provides.

The UK government has announced it will allocate £48m for an ultra-low emission bus scheme in England and Wales. The initiative was first introduced in 2016 as part of the government's overall strategy to reduce emissions nationwide.

The UK government has announced that it will begin testing self-driving trucks on public roads in Britain next year. Tests of self-driving trucks in Europe have been ongoing for the last two years, and now the Tory-DUP led coalition government have agreed to introduce the revolutionary technology that looks set to transform the transportation industry.