Tunis:Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has secured first place in the IEEE Smart Cities Contest 2026 for its National Digital Twin Platform project. The project won in the "Developed Economy, Legacy City" category, highlighting the ministry's commitment to using advanced digital technologies for urban planning in Saudi Arabia.

According to Saudi Press Agency, this prestigious award is part of the IEEE Smart Cities Initiative, an annual event organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the world's largest non-profit professional technical organization. The initiative aims to promote technology for the benefit of humanity.

The National Digital Twin Platform project encompasses the cities of Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Dammam. It utilizes data and digital technology to better understand urban needs, address city challenges, and support infrastructure planning. This project also aims to improve resource allocation towards urban priorities, thereby enhancing urban environments to meet the daily needs of residents and visitors.

This achievement underscores Saudi Arabia's growing influence in the smart cities sector both regionally and globally. It also reflects the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing's dedication to leveraging digital innovation and advanced technologies in urban development. The ministry's efforts align with the Saudi Vision 2030 to create sustainable, efficient cities with a focus on people-centric development.

The ministry's success in the 2026 contest follows its win in the previous year's IEEE Smart Cities Contest for the Balady Lens product, which utilized generative AI. This latest victory with the National Digital Twin Platform further solidifies the ministry's international reputation for digital innovation in urban development.