A Holistic Framework for Smart Cities Governance in the Gulf Region: From Hype to Sustainable Impact

Abstract

This introductory chapter lays the foundation for a Holistic Smart City framework organized around five pillars namely: Smart City Governance – Strategy – Utilization – Technology – Infrastructure (GSUTI) model. Smart cities governance establishes the overarching structure for effective management, emphasizing data integrity, regulatory resilience, and civic engagement. The strategy pillar integrates vision, mission, and strategic initiatives aligned with sustainable development goals, ensuring resource allocation and innovation resilience. The Utilization Framework encompasses diverse domains like transportation, energy, and healthcare, thus prioritizing initiatives and monitoring impact, enabling technologies that drive smart city innovation, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) (Chui et al., 2018), Internet of Things, blockchain, and cybersecurity to enhance efficiency and service delivery. Infrastructures and capabilities encompass physical and data ecosystems, from buildings and transportation hubs to big data streams and social media content. The chapter sets the context for the scientific discussion, offering practical insights into strategic consultation, performance monitoring, technology management, and data governance. It outlines directions for smart city development in the Gulf Region, including bold visions, megaprojects, national-level initiatives, data-driven services, and AI-driven excellence. This holistic framework provides a roadmap for smart city development, fostering sustainability, innovation, and societal well-being across the Gulf Region and beyond.