Smart City Investment in the Gulf Crosses $40 Billion
NEOM, Masdar, Lusail and the Diriyah Gate development together represent the most ambitious urban-technology investment programme of the decade.
Cumulative announced investment in dedicated smart-city projects across the Gulf has crossed $42 billion through the first quarter of 2026, according to a survey of project filings and investor disclosures.
NEOM continues to dominate the headline figures, with The Line and Oxagon together accounting for roughly half the total. Construction milestones at both projects remain ahead of the public schedule presented at last year's investor day.
Masdar City in Abu Dhabi has accelerated its Phase 3 expansion, with completion of the first net-zero commercial district now targeted for late 2027.
International contractors are direct beneficiaries. Bechtel, Bouygues, Salini Impregilo and a number of Korean and Chinese majors hold combined backlog of more than $80 billion across the active Gulf smart-city programmes.
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