Doha, Qatar — Doha has been included among the world’s intelligent cities in the inaugural Boston Consulting Group Intelligent Cities Index 2026, placing Qatar’s capital in the Emerging Maturity category alongside major global urban centres.
The index evaluates how cities use artificial intelligence and digital technologies to improve public services, economic opportunities and quality of life for residents.
The assessment covers 61 cities across 39 countries and measures performance across five areas: outcomes, strategy, adoption, ways of working and enabling factors.
Cities are classified into four maturity levels: leading, accelerating, emerging and developing.
Gulf cities gain stronger global presence
London ranked first overall in the index, followed by Dubai, New York City, Washington and Amsterdam among the leading smart cities.
Dubai was recognised as the global leader in the adoption category, reflecting its extensive use of smart city platforms and artificial intelligence solutions across public services.
Other Gulf cities, including Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, were placed in the accelerating category, highlighting the region’s growing investment in digital transformation.
Doha appeared in the emerging group alongside cities such as Tokyo, Hong Kong and Medina.
AI adoption linked to better urban outcomes
The report found that cities with stronger artificial intelligence adoption generally deliver improved outcomes for residents.
Researchers noted that expanding AI applications can help cities improve service delivery even when they are still developing their digital ecosystems.
Residents in parts of Asia, Africa and the Middle East showed particularly strong interest in generative AI technologies, with younger populations often leading adoption trends.
The index also highlighted a connection between smart city applications and public satisfaction, with frequent users reporting more positive experiences.
Technology alone not enough, report says
The study found that successful smart cities require more than advanced technology.
Strong performers combine digital infrastructure and data capabilities with wider foundations, including skilled talent, investment, innovation networks and effective governance.
The report noted that leading cities often create environments where entrepreneurship and private sector participation help translate technology into economic opportunities.
Gulf cities continue digital transformation push
The ranking comes as Gulf countries continue expanding investments in artificial intelligence, digital government services and smart infrastructure.
For emerging cities such as Doha, the report identified opportunities to accelerate progress through stronger AI strategies, wider adoption of proven digital solutions and deeper collaboration between governments and businesses.
As cities worldwide compete to become more connected and efficient, regional governments are increasingly focusing on technology-driven services designed around residents’ needs.
The index is expected to serve as a benchmark for cities as they develop future digital strategies and measure progress in artificial intelligence adoption.
