Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has taken first place in the IEEE Smart Cities Contest 2026 in the “Developed Economy, Legacy City” category, for its National Digital Twin Platform. The award recognises the ministry's use of advanced digital tools in urban planning and in decisions that shape residents' lives and the future of Saudi cities.

Regarded as one of the leading international prizes for smart cities and urban digital transformation, the award is presented under the IEEE Smart Cities Initiative, run every year by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world's largest non-profit technical professional organisation.

The platform covers Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah and Dammam. It uses data and digital technologies to understand each city's needs and challenges, plan services and infrastructure, direct resources to urban priorities, anticipate problems and manage facilities more efficiently.

The win follows the ministry's IEEE Smart Cities Contest 2025 award for Balady Lens, a generative AI-based product. It strengthens the Kingdom's regional and global standing in smart cities, in line with Saudi Vision 2030's goal of more sustainable, efficient and people-centred cities.