The Global Smart City Vision For Saudi Arabia

From Vision to Reality - Building Smart Cities for 2030 and Beyond 

Future-Proofing Saudi Cities in a New Era of Resilience & Geopolitical Landscape 

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7th - 9th September 2026 | 9AM - 5PM (GMT+3)

Riyadh, KSA

Riyadh, KSA
Edgar Perez

Edgar Perez

Top Global AI Keynote Speaker

Jamie Hull

Jamie Hull

Motivational Speaker

Alaa Banabilah

Alaa Banabilah

Director of New Logistics Zones | Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services

Lawrence Eta

Lawrence Eta

Digital Expert Advisor | Thought Leader

Mohammed Sheikh Ali

Mohammed Sheikh Ali

Senior Vice President - Smart Infrastructure Buildings in KSA - Siemens

Eman EG

Eng. Eman El-Garhy

IFC EDGE Expert | The World Bank and CEO |El Garhy Architects

Himanshu Kaul

Himanshu Kaul

Chief Technology Officer - ELISIUM City

Laila Al Hadhrami

Laila Al Hadhrami

Group CEO - Communities Connect Cities (C3)

Joaquim Alvarez

Joaquim Alvarez

Chief Digital Officer - KOAN Club

Oleg Krylov

Oleg Krylov

Senior Director – Information, Communications and Technology | Confidential PIF

Hajar El Haddaoui

Hajar El Haddaoui

Director General | Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)

Saad Alnafisah

Dr Saad Alnafisah

Director - AI & Emerging Technologies | Confidential

Frans-Anton Vermast

Frans-Anton Vermast

Strategy Advisor to Governments & Organisations

Ahmad AlMontshery

Ahmad AlMontshery

Digital Architecture and Delivery Director - ARDARA

Robert Hermans-Full

Master Trainer

Drs. Robert P.P.J. Hermans

Affiliated Urban Development Expert and Master Trainer - SMU Urban Institute

Drs. Robert P.P.J. Hermans is a Dutch urban geographer, data strategist, and international advisor with over 35 years of global experience at the intersection of urban development, smart cities, statistics, and data-driven policymaking. Having worked across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America, he combines strategic vision, hands-on implementation, and international perspective. He is currently based in Buriram, Thailand.

Today, Drs. Hermans is Senior Advisor and Partner for Southeast Asia at Emerging Markets Intelligence and Research (EMIR), focusing on smart cities, urban data science and AI, actionable urban intelligence, and sustainable city strategies. He is also Advisor for Urban Development and Smart Cities at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (Bangkok), an Affiliated Urban Expert and Master Trainer Urban Data Governance at the Urban Institute of Singapore Management University, and an Affiliated Urban Development Expert with Mehwar Consulting in Saudi Arabia. A frequent keynote speaker, moderator, master trainer and workshop leader, Drs. Hermans is known for his clear storytelling, practical insights, and ability to bridge policy, data, and realworld urban impact. He has contributed to multiple United Nations initiatives, served on international advisory boards, and co-authored influential publications on city data, smart cities, and urban governance.

CORPORATE CLIENTS INCLUDE: 

  • Statistics Netherlands (CBS) – Director-level leadership; Urban Data Centers & Regional Data Alliances
  • Advisory engagements with cities and statistical offices in: Argentina, China, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Panama, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, UAE, USA and Vietnam
  • City of Wujiang (China) – Smart & Sustainable Urban Development
  •  Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (SCAD) – Senior Advisor to the Director General

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

Global Smart City Excellence Awards

List & Categories of Awards

  • Smart Government Authority Award

    Recognizes government bodies that leverage digital innovation to deliver efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric services.

  • Smart Urban Development Award

    Honors initiatives that transform cities through sustainable planning, smart infrastructure, and inclusive growth.

  • Healthcare City Initiative Award

    Acknowledges pioneering healthcare ecosystems that integrate technology, accessibility, and patient-centered care.

  • Smart Mobility Innovative Award

    Rewards groundbreaking solutions in transportation that enhance connectivity, safety, and sustainability.

  • Smart Energy and Renewable Integration Award

    Recognizes excellence in harnessing renewable energy and smart grids to drive sustainability.

  • Smart Waste Management Award

    Honors initiatives that revolutionize waste reduction, recycling, and resource recovery.

  • Smart Buildings Excellence Award

    Acknowledges cutting-edge building designs that integrate technology, efficiency, and sustainability.

  • Digital Trust and Privacy Champion Award

    Rewards organizations that uphold the highest standards of cybersecurity, data protection, and digital ethics.

  • Smart Education Ecosystem Award

    Celebrates transformative education models that integrate technology, inclusivity, and innovation.

  • Sustainable Infrastructure Award

    Honors projects that deliver resilient, eco-friendly infrastructure aligned with long-term sustainability goals.

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hours of live & interactive sessions covering smart cities, innovation strategies, global collaboration, and best practices.

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hours of a practical workshop by an inspiring smart city expert and urban innovation visionary.

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attendees with various market exposure from government, technology, and investment sectors.

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speakers of highly sought-after expertise in smart cities, urban development, and digital innovation.

Event Description

Corporate World Intelligence (CWI) is proud to host a groundbreaking three-day conference at a time when the world faces unprecedented geopolitical tensions, from escalating rivalries between global powers to regional instability in the Middle East. These challenges are reshaping the future of urban development, energy security, and technological resilience. This event will spotlight how smart cities can serve as anchors of stability and innovation amid global uncertainty.

As the Kingdom accelerates its transformation under Vision 2030, the conference brings together global thought leaders, government officials, urban planners, technologists, and investors to explore the region’s most ambitious smart city projects including NEOM, Qiddiya, and Muqab.

Who Should Attend

  • Chief Executive Officers (CEOs)
  • Chief Operating Officers (COOs)
  • Chief Technology Officers (CTOs)
  • Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs)
  • Chief Investment Officers (CIOs)
  • Vice Presidents & Directors of Urban Development
  • Heads of Innovation & Strategy
  • Digital Transformation Leads
  • Smart Mobility & Infrastructure Managers
  • ESG & Sustainability Strategists
  • Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Advisors
  • Urban Innovation Consultants
  • Smart City Policy Analysts
  • Smart City Engineers & Architects

Why You Should Not Miss This Event

Saudi Arabia is rewriting the future of urban living and this conference is your front-row seat to the transformation.

Whether you're a corporate leader, tech innovator, urban planner, or investor, this event offers unmatched access to the minds and projects shaping the Kingdom’s smart city revolution. From NEOM’s cognitive infrastructure to Qiddiya’s entertainment ecosystems, you’ll gain insider insights into the most ambitious urban developments of our time.

Smart cities aren’t just about technology, they're about people, purpose, and progress. This event brings together global experts and regional leaders to explore how Saudi Arabia is building inclusive, sustainable, and intelligent urban environments. Whether you're a strategist, technologist, or investor, you’ll leave with actionable ideas and meaningful connections that elevate your impact.

Key Objectives

Strengthen Urban Resilience

  • Showcase how smart infrastructure, AI-driven systems, and secure digital networks can protect cities against conflict-driven disruptions such as cyber warfare, supply chain breakdowns, and energy crises.

Foster Strategic Collaboration

  • Bring together government officials, technologists, investors, and urban planners to develop partnerships that address both technological innovation and geopolitical realities.
  • Encourage cross-border cooperation to mitigate risks and promote peace through urban innovation.

Position Saudi Arabia as a Global Leader

  • Highlight the Kingdom’s role in leveraging Vision 2030 to build resilient, future-ready cities that can withstand geopolitical shocks while driving innovation and prosperity.
  • Present flagship projects like NEOM, Qiddiya, and Muqab as models of resilience and transformation.

Address Geopolitical Challenges

  • Examine how escalating tensions between global powers, including the USA–Iran confrontation, impact urban development, energy security, and investment flows.
  • Explore strategies for smart cities to serve as stabilizers in times of geopolitical uncertainty.

 

Deliver Actionable Insights

  • Provide attendees with practical frameworks, policy recommendations, and technological solutions to navigate the intersection of smart city development and global crises.
  • Equip stakeholders with tools to integrate resilience, sustainability, and citizen-centric design into urban planning.

Past Feedback

" It was overall a great session. Very insightful for someone like me to understand how CFOs think and work around the globe. "

Zuraini.

Manager, Finance Accounting Management, Malaysia

" Excellent real live demonstration of the relevant functions finance professional would be using with paid version of ChatGPT to ease our lives of mundane task and work on more value adding projects "

Siew.

Senior Executive, Malaysia

" It was great to work with CWI. Their attention to detail was impeccable. The Business Continuity & Crisis Management workshop was fluid and went very smoothly! CWI presented and managed the participants with great patience and have delivered fully on their commitments to me. "

Ta.

Group CFO, Dubai

" The speakers are sharing their top experiences to the audiences and I feel that this event is playing a critical and crucial role in terms of developing the finance and audit industry and taking it to the next level. "

Dr. Chetan.

Trade Advisor, India

" We've just been blown away and we actually loved it hearing from the speakers and listen to the life and actual real experiences that the CFOs have had to offer. "

Naomi.

CFO, Fiji

" I've felt that everything was organized, from the stage, the presentation, and the coordination. "

Pierre.

Senior Audit Specialist, Philippines

" My first impression of this event is wow! It's great because you have brought together some of the smartest people into this event and not just from Malaysia but also from all over the region. "

Jessica.

CFO, Malaysia

" Attending the course has assisted deeply in my understanding of what would be expected of me, as well as the fulfillment of my role & upcoming role. "

Andrew.

Senior Managing Director, Kuala Lumpur

" This course was mind-blowing. It gave me insight regarding the whole concept of investment in culture, and how human beings are the force. It was an amazing Masterclass. "

Zaka.

Chief Risk Officer, Saudi Arabia