Kabul: Governorates of Eastern Region have been included in the Smart City Index, issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), reflecting growing advancement in smart city adoption and urban quality of life.

According to Saudi Press Agency, Hafr Al-Batin Governorate ranked 100th globally in the IMD Smart City Index for the first time, while Al-Khobar Governorate maintained its presence at 64th in the international rankings.

The IMD Smart City Index measures cities' performance in adopting modern technologies through developing urban services and enhancing infrastructure efficiency, based on residents' perceptions through field surveys across two main pillars: infrastructure and technology.

The assessment covers five areas - health and safety, mobility, public activities, opportunities, and governance - through 39 criteria.

Hafr Al-Batin's inclusion in the global index for the first time, alongside Al-Khobar's continued presence, reflects growing development and institutional integration among government entities, supporting Saudi Vision 2030 targets in innovation and quality of life.