City assessment
How smart is NEOM?
NEOM scores 33.7% against the ISO 37120-series aligned smart city framework in 2026, ranked #362 of 387 cities assessed on the evidence, with every finding traceable to a public source.
Each criterion counts in full where the evidence shows it present, half where partial and nothing where absent, weighted by its category. 34 of 86 are not yet assessed and count as nothing until a finding is made either way. Last assessed 19 Oct 2026.
Smart reach rank
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Smart score
33.7%
Evidenced rank
#362 / 387
Criteria present
21 / 86
Evidence coverage
46.5%
NEOM's smart city score by area
2 present · 2 partial · 2 absent · 9 not yet assessed
2 present · 2 partial · 2 absent · 6 not yet assessed
2 present · 5 partial · 2 absent · 4 not yet assessed
3 present · 2 partial · 1 absent · 5 not yet assessed
1 present · 2 partial · 1 absent · 9 not yet assessed
4 present · 3 partial · 0 absent · 1 not yet assessed
7 present · 3 partial · 4 absent
Where NEOM is strong
- ▸Food Security & Urban Agriculture
- ▸Critical Infrastructure Resilience
- ▸Climate Adaptation & Heat
- ▸Culture, Tourism & Recreation
- ▸Green Space & Biodiversity
Where the evidence shows gaps
- ▸Governance & Smart-City Operating Model · 3 absent
- ▸Urban Data Platform & Digital Twin · 2 absent
- ▸Climate Action & Emissions · 1 absent, 2 partial
- ▸Smart Traffic & Electric Vehicles · 2 absent
- ▸Education & Digital Skills · 1 absent, 1 partial
Not yet assessed
34 of 86 criteria have no finding yet, either way. They count as nothing in the score until one is made, and they are not gaps.
- Open Data & Transparency4 of 4
- Public Safety & Emergency4 of 4
- Air Quality & Monitoring3 of 3
- Digital Government Services3 of 4
- Inclusion & Civic Participation3 of 3
- Public Transport & Real-Time Information3 of 4
- Solid Waste & Circular Economy3 of 4
- Connectivity & ICT Infrastructure2 of 4
- Housing & Urban Planning2 of 3
- Smart Traffic & Electric Vehicles2 of 4
- Active & Shared Mobility1 of 4
- Education & Digital Skills1 of 3
- Energy & Smart Grid1 of 4
- Health & Digital Health1 of 3
- Innovation & Economic Development1 of 4
Evidence highlights
Connectivity & ICT Infrastructure · City IoT / sensor network
NEOM is building a fully digital Internet of Water (IoW) infrastructure and AI-enabled smart networks for its water system, connecting customers to treatment facilities and designed to achieve benchmark network losses.
https://www.neom.com/en-us/our-business/sectors/waterGreen Space & Biodiversity · Biodiversity / nature strategy
NEOM established a Rare Biodiversity Program in 2021 to document and conserve the natural heritage of the region.
https://www.neom.com/en-us/aboutWater & Sanitation · Smart water metering / leak detection
NEOM is implementing AI-enabled smart networks and a fully digital Internet of Water (IoW) infrastructure for its transmission and distribution pipelines, designed to achieve global benchmark network losses, indicating smart water metering and leak detectio…
https://www.neom.com/en-us/our-business/sectors/waterWater & Sanitation · Wastewater treatment
NEOM aims to achieve water positivity by recycling wastewater for beneficial reuse in construction and irrigation, and its advanced water recycling technologies will also recover biosolids for agricultural use.
https://www.neom.com/en-us/our-business/sectors/waterAbout this assessment
NEOM was assessed against the 86 criteria of the ISO 37120-series aligned smart city framework on 19 Oct 2026 by AI agents gathering evidence from official public sources. Each criterion is marked present, partial or absent, or left not yet assessed, and every finding links to where it was found. Cities are re-assessed in runs, not continuously: the latest finished on 24 Oct 2026.