On November 24, Msheireb Properties hosted the first-of-its-kind virtual summit titled “Doha Smart Cities Summit”. Msheireb Properties representatives, partners, global smart cities leaders, innovators, and experts were present at the event.

During the event, speakers discussed the vital role of smart cities for current and future generations and its high capabilities to tackle different challenges during pandemic times, and its role in supporting sustainability and water and energy efficiency.

Engineer Ali Al-Kuwari, Msheireb Properties Acting CEO, revealed that Msheireb Properties is conducting tests for autonomous vehicles at Msheireb Downtown Doha during the summit. The new autonomous vehicles will be offering their services once the tests are completed.

According to him, "Smart cities are no longer a matter of choice but rather a global trend adopted by countries and corporates to cope with new societal demands, whether by individuals, companies, or governmental entities. Smart cities have proven their high capabilities to meet individual and companies' needs better than conventional cities during the Corona pandemic, in the fields of remote learning, work from home, delivery services or unmanned equipment.”

Furthermore, Al-Kuwari explained that the “autonomous driver” concept will have multiple applications and nullify the need for a driver. Once ongoing tests in Msheireb Downtown Doha have concluded, the vehicles will be equipped to serve residents and tenants.

According to Reem Mohammed Al-Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Society Development, Ministry of Transport and Communications said, “Qatar is working to accomplish sustainable development as per the pillars of 2030 Qatar National vision and change the economy from a natural based economy to a knowledge-based society, with Qatar being positioned at the forefront of digital innovations.”

During the event, he stated that the TASMU smart Qatar Program has been launched which aims to deliver smart solutions and will be applicable across various priority sectors. For instance, the Ehteraz mobile application was launched to identify and manage the virus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

H.E. Hassan Al-Thawadi, Secretary-General, Chairman, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, said, "Qatar succeeded through hard work and proper planning in overcoming the obstacles related to the international tournament. We work to ensure the provision of a smart experience for visitors to Qatar 2022 from the moment they board a plane, arriving at Hamad International airport, use 5G network, commute through Doha Metro, booking their stay in Msheireb or any other destination, and moving to and from the stadiums and other locations."

Reiterating the importance of sustainability in preserving the environment and resources, Al Thawadi stated that all stadiums are sustainable to serve all members of society.

H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Thani, CEO, Vodafone Qatar, said: "The transformation to smart cities is no longer a luxury but a necessity that is required to solve some of the greatest challenges the world is facing. Smart cities were able to quickly and efficiently respond to fighting the virus, through processing algorithms and artificial intelligence applications that helped authorities set plans in place to trace suspect COVID-19 Cases."

The summit witnessed the participation of representatives from Amsterdam and Singapore, well-renowned for its smart cities. Leonie van den Beuken, Program Director at Amsterdam Smart City, and Tan Puay Hong, Principle Engineer at Land Transport Authority of Singapore, shared the experience of the two cities with the audience.

The summit included a series of panel discussions about a range of specialist areas. The first panel explored cybersecurity in smart cities and the importance of implementing digital systems services. The second panel touched on mobility and autonomous vehicles and the presentation of a new transportation business model.

'Innovation and Sustainability From Lifestyle Shift to Climate Change' was the title of the third session. The summit concluded with a special closing panel session on a pandemic-ready smart city model, outlining smart cities' readiness and preparedness in the stages of lockdown.

Doha Smart Cities Summit was an important platform for experts, professionals, and a broader audience to share, inspire, and shape the Smart City industry's future.

The summit comes under Msheireb Properties' continuous commitment to adopting sustainable practices of smart cities to strengthen its position among global cities and reflects its effort in supporting the 2030 Qatar National Vision that seeks to achieve sustainable development.

Also, the summit positions Qatar as a leading country in promoting partnerships that serve societies and nations. 

The Ministry of Transportation and Communication, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Qatar Free Zones Authority, and Vodafone Qatar are some of the many local partners of the Doha Smart Cities Summit.

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