Saudi Arabia Adopts Smart City Strategy

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
TT

Saudi Arabia Adopts Smart City Strategy

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia has adopted a new strategy for smart cities, which aims to transform the municipal and residential sector services into smart services through digital technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The strategy aims to enhance economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and adequate government supervision.

The strategy was established with the participation of all the municipalities in the municipal sector. It was developed for each secretariat of its own, including a roadmap until 2030.

It identifies six goals that take into account the priorities and challenges of each region.

The Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing stated that over 50 initiatives will be launched in nine sectors by 2030.

The initiatives include smart parking and systems to preserve the environment and waste disposal, housing and smart community management, land and asset management, urban landscape improvement, and urban planning.

The ministry stressed that through the strategy, it aims to achieve three main goals: improving the quality of life of citizens, achieving financial sustainability, and improving the quality of services.

Smart cities will create solutions to the complex challenges associated with development, namely sustainability, congestion, transportation, and energy use. It seeks to improve the quality of life for all members of society.



Report: EU to Vote on Oct 4 to Finalize Tariffs for China-made EVs

A Leapmotor electric vehicle is put though a rain test on the production line at the Leapmotor factory in Jinhua, China's eastern Zhejiang province on September 18, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
A Leapmotor electric vehicle is put though a rain test on the production line at the Leapmotor factory in Jinhua, China's eastern Zhejiang province on September 18, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
TT

Report: EU to Vote on Oct 4 to Finalize Tariffs for China-made EVs

A Leapmotor electric vehicle is put though a rain test on the production line at the Leapmotor factory in Jinhua, China's eastern Zhejiang province on September 18, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
A Leapmotor electric vehicle is put though a rain test on the production line at the Leapmotor factory in Jinhua, China's eastern Zhejiang province on September 18, 2024. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)

The European Union is planning to vote on whether to introduce tariffs as high as 45% on imported electric vehicles made in China on Oct. 4, Bloomberg News reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Member states have received a draft of the regulation for the proposed measures, the report said, adding that the new date could still change.
According to the report, the vote among the bloc's member states was slightly delayed amid last-minute negotiations with Beijing to try to find a resolution that would avoid the new levies.
The European Commission did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The European Commission is on the verge of proposing final tariffs of up to 35.3% on EVs built in China, on top of the EU's standard 10% car import duty.
The proposed final duties will be subject to a vote by the EU's 27 members. They will be implemented by the end of October unless a qualified majority of 15 EU members representing 65% of the EU population votes against the levies.