The US$60m operating system is set to showcase sustainability and technology at the heart of urban lifestyles in the Middle East

As a key element of Qatar’s National Vision 2030, Lusail is the country’s largest sustainable city, spanning 38sq km and home to 450,000 residents. It includes four exclusive islands and 19 multi-purpose residential, mixed-use, entertainment and commercial districts featuring aspects of smart and sustainable urban living.

On 14 Oct, it was announced that Lusail Real Estate Development Company (LREDC), a subsidiary of Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company (Qatari Diar), would launch a US$60m project to design, build and operate a state-of-the-art smart city platform with citywide network connectivity for Lusail City, Qatar. This will transform it into a fully integrated smart city that leverages advanced AI and data-driven technologies. The project is scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2024 and conclude by 2027.

Other key findings include:

  • A “smart city operating system (OS)” that will serve as the digital backbone, integrating an asset management platform to enable 24/7, automated city-wide monitoring and protection of critical and infrastructure assets across a variety of operational domains
  • AI-enhanced workflow automation and comprehensive city-wide insights to boost efficiency and response time, optimize resource utilization and enhance stakeholder experiences
  • Resident- and visitor- centric interactive smart applications such as AI-enabled chatbots to enable the interpretation of citizen queries in natural language for improved service, as well as a real-time feedback system with data analytics and visualization tools for enhanced decision-making

Said Qatari Diar’s CEO, Ali Mohamed Al-Ali, the ambitious project marks a key step toward realizing “our vision of providing an integrated and sustainable urban environment. By leveraging AI technologies and interactive applications, we aim to offer superior smart city experiences that make the city more efficient and sustainable.”

According to Chew Men Leong, President, Urban Solutions, ST Engineering, the firm that was awarded the contract: “With Lusail recognized as a model for the future of urban living… (the smart city OS will) enable new possibilities for sustainable urban living… and look forward to working with Qatari Diar to deliver this impactful project.”