Dubai has been named the most digitally dependent city in the world, according to a recent study by ZeroBounce.
The research assessed global cities based on key aspects of digital infrastructure, including internet speed, public Wi-Fi availability, CCTV coverage, and access to smart city solutions like pollution monitoring, transport digitisation, and real-time traffic updates.
Dubai secured the top position with an overall score of 79.1, standing out for its extensive CCTV coverage (88.5) and high-speed internet, ranking second globally in internet performance.
The city also scored high in online maintenance reporting, leading digital connectivity.
Shanghai and Seoul Follow Closely
Shanghai took second place with a score of 71.4, the highest ratings in pollution monitoring (89.7), digital transport infrastructure (87.5), and real-time traffic information (88.1). The Chinese city’s online maintenance reporting system (84.5) also outperformed Dubai’s by 8%.
Seoul ranked third with a score of 70.0. The South Korean capital showed strong performance in public Wi-Fi accessibility and CCTV coverage (80.6), alongside its commendable digital nomad ranking of 4.5, which was higher than both Dubai and Shanghai.
Beijing and Singapore Strengthen Asia’s Digital Dominance
Beijing took fourth place with a score of 66.3, doing great in pollution monitoring (86.5) and digital transport solutions (83.7). Singapore followed in fifth place, scoring 64.6.
While its transport infrastructure digitisation (63.2) trailed the top four cities, Singapore outperformed Dubai in CCTV coverage (80.8) and pollution tracking (62.0).
Europe and North America’s Digital Competitors
Amsterdam ranked seventh with a score of 55.3, making it the highest-placed European city. The Dutch capital had a strong digital nomad ranking (5.1) and reliable internet connectivity, earning a Speedtest global rank of 22.
Barcelona followed in eighth place with 53.3, standing out for having the highest digital nomad rating (5.8) among the top ten cities. However, its CCTV coverage (41.2) and pollution monitoring systems (41.0) were lower compared to the leading cities.
New York City was the only North American city on the list, ranking ninth with a score of 51.9. The U.S. city had nearly double Amsterdam’s CCTV coverage (57.2) but lagged behind Barcelona in transport digitisation by 7%.
Stockholm rounded out the top ten with a score of 51.8, standing out for its internet connectivity (ranked 15th globally) and having the most advanced digital transport infrastructure among European cities (70.0). However, its pollution monitoring score (57.8) fell below the overall top ten average.
The Rise of Digital-First Cities
Brian Minick, chief operating officer at ZeroBounce, commented on the study, stating: “It’s fascinating to see the data ranking the cities with the strongest digital infrastructure around the world. This infrastructure not only improves transportation and public safety but also enhances access to essential services like healthcare and digital governance. Our study shows that cities in the Middle East and Asia lead in forward-thinking technology and thus streamline public services, improve mobility, and create safer, more connected environments.”
The findings reveal how much countries are relying on digital infrastructure across the world, with Middle Eastern and Asian cities at the top of technological advancements.
