The Emerald Handbook of Smart Cities in the Gulf Region: Innovation, Development, Transformation, and Prosperity for Vision 2040 is a definitive reference edition that employs a four-tiered approach to understanding smart cities in the Gulf Region: Innovation, Development, Transformation, and Prosperity. This active learning approach empowers readers to apply a wide range of knowledge from social sciences and computer science to real-world issues, fostering critical thinking skills and competencies.

Editors Miltiadis D. Lytras, Afnan Alkhaldi, and Sawsan Malik unite diverse communities of researchers, academics, practitioners, industrial managers, and policy makers to advance applied research, best practices, and lessons related to smart cities in the Gulf Region. This collected work uniquely integrates urban planning, advanced computational, and government policy-making aspects, with a focus on disseminating the momentum of Smart Cities Research in the Gulf Region. It addresses the comprehensive Smart Cities agenda, encompassing strategic, technical, computational, economic, social, and innovative dimensions. It delves into sophisticated computational technologies, such as AI, Blockchain, Metaverse, Cloud Computing, Data Mining, IoT, and more, emphasizing their role in realizing the vision of smart cities. Moreover, it addresses the social, economic, and sustainability dimensions of smart cities, touching on well-being, quality of life, social inclusion, and citizen engagement.

This comprehensive study is suited for a wide-ranging audience, including researchers, academics, practitioners, industrial managers, and policy makers interested in advancing applied research, best practices, and lessons related to smart cities in the Gulf Region.

Miltiadis D. Lytras is Visiting Researcher at Effat at University. Dr. Lytras is a world-class expert in the fields of digital transformation and Smart Cities. He is an expert in advanced computer science and management, editor, lecturer, and research consultant, with extensive experience in academia and the business sector in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Afnan Alkhaldi is Assistant Professor at the Arab Open University in Kuwait, renowned for her expertise in smart city development. As a consultant for Kuwait’s Al Hareer Smart City project, Alkhaldi leverages her innovative and efficient strategies to bolster economic development and urban planning.

Sawsan Malik is Assistant Professor at the Arab Open University in Kuwait, specializing in transforming business plans into innovative business models, focusing on the informal economy and the entrepreneurial process. Her research extends to smart city development, emphasizing the role of digitalization in enhancing entrepreneurial ventures.