Abu Dhabi and Seoul sign “friendship city” agreement

MEMBERSHIP

WEBINARS

MEMBERSHIP

Webinars

OnDemand Trend Report Panel Discussion: AI for personalised government services – building trust and inclusivity in cities

Join city and industry experts to explore how AI is enabling more personalised, accessible, and trusted government services, and uncover practical strategies for responsible AI adoption that benefits all citizens. Hear from Manchester City Council and the City of Tampere.

OnDemand Webinar: Getting your data strategy right for smarter sites and safer operations

Discover the crucial role industrial sites are playing in shaping safety, resilience, and service continuity for continued city connectivity.

Special Reports

How Europe’s cities can lead the climate transition

Policymakers and city leaders must act to unlock vital sources of private capital and cities must engage investors at a much earlier stage, says Delphine Queniart of Bankers Without Boundaries.

Manchester’s digital journey: from strategy to action

Discover how Manchester is turning its digital ambitions into action through a people-centred approach that blends social purpose with technical innovation.

Smart Cities Reports

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Dublin

Find out how Dublin is innovating to improve experiences and services for its communities in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile, including digital twin projects, traffic reduction, and economic growth.

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile 2024 – City of Madrid

Discover how the city of Madrid is innovating to become a smarter, more sustainable city that’s able to deliver improved services to residents and visitors alike.

Podcasts

Podcast: Using mobility data to shape the future of citiesSponsored by TomTom

TomTom’s Ralf-Peter Schäfer discusses the power of real-time data in reshaping city life, and what the future holds for smart urban mobility.

Podcast: Building resilient cities: trustworthy AI, digital twins, and urban innovation at YII 2025Sponsored by Bentley Systems

SmartCitiesWorld speaks with Bentley Systems leaders about unleashing AI and digital twins to drive innovation, resilience, and people-first progress in the world’s cities.

Opinions

Smart lighting: enabling smart cities beyond illuminationSponsored by Paradox Engineering

Carlo Bernocco, Head of Business and Customer Success at Paradox Engineering, explores how smart lighting is evolving from energy-saving infrastructure to a multifunctional platform at the heart of urban innovation.

How AI and biometrics are shaping next-generation mobility paymentsSponsored by ST Engineering

Fuad Alsagoff, Senior Manager, Mobility Payment Systems, Urban Solutions at ST Engineering, explains how mobility payments are evolving with a new wave of technology – and how openness and inclusive services are driving adoption.

Home | News

Abu Dhabi and Seoul hope the collaboration will inspire cities worldwide to embark on similar journeys toward a more interconnected urban future

The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) in Abu Dhabi and the Seoul Metropolitan Government have signed “a friendship city agreement”, signalling a milestone in international cooperation for urban development and transportation innovation.

Abu Dhabi has also opened a regional office of the Seoul-based World Smart Sustainable Cities Organisation (WeGO) for Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Hub for smart systems

The collaboration follows DMT’s successful bid at the 6th General Assembly of the World Organisation for Smart and Sustainable Cities in Seoul, South Korea. The MENA regional office will serve as a hub for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at empowering cities in the region to harness the benefits of smart technologies for sustainable urban development.

“Hosting the WeGO MENA regional office and the signing of the Friendship City Agreement are significant achievements for the DMT and emirate at large,” said Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman of DMT. “They reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading hub for smart sustainable urban development in the MENA region, showcasing our commitment to innovation and excellence in urban planning and transportation infrastructure.

The friendship city agreement, signed between Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa and Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon encompasses various areas of collaboration. These include urban and transport planning, municipal services, autonomous vehicles, public transport innovations, smart city solutions, Internet of Things (IoT) applications, and smart systems.

The agreement extends to innovative transport solutions, smart infrastructure, energy innovations, data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI) utilisation, open data initiatives, and the promotion of research and development in urban development.

“These collaborations further underscore our dedication to fostering international partnerships and driving forward the global agenda for sustainable urbanisation”

“As we celebrate the official opening of WeGO’s MENA regional office and the signing of the friendship city agreement, we stand at the threshold of a new era in urban development,” said Oh Se-hoon.

“These milestones between Abu Dhabi and Seoul symbolise not just an alliance, but a shared vision of progress and prosperity. In this journey towards a brighter tomorrow, let the exchange of ideas and our partnership become the catalyst for transformative change, inspiring cities around the world.”

During the inauguration ceremony, senior government officials and international city mayors underscored their shared commitment to urban innovation and excellence. They articulated a common goal – inspiring cities worldwide to embark on similar journeys toward a more prosperous and interconnected urban future.

Latest City Profile

SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)

Our editorial newsletter pulls together our latest news items into one email, direct to your inbox. We also feature our latest city interviews, Special Reports and Guest Opinions.