Qatar’s forward-looking urban development strategy—anchored by smart cities like Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) and Lusail City—positions the country as a global model for sustainable and intelligent urban living, according to Dr. Mohamed Althaf, Director of LuLu Group International.
Speaking to Gulf Times, Dr. Althaf noted that Qatar’s world-class infrastructure, bolstered by its technological readiness and ambitious smart city projects, makes it a prime candidate for piloting cutting-edge technologies driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation.
“We already have smart city infrastructure, excellent broadband connectivity, and all the essential support systems in place,” he said, referencing the global spotlight Qatar earned after successfully hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Lusail and MDD: Pioneers of Smart Urbanism
Lusail City, developed by Qatari Diar, is the largest real estate project in Qatar, backed by $45 billion in infrastructure investment and spanning 38 million square meters. According to Khalifa Al-Mana, Senior Manager at Qatari Diar, Lusail represents a bold leap toward sustainable, tech-driven urban living through a blend of residential, commercial, and entertainment zones.
“By leveraging AI technologies and interactive applications, we aim to create a more efficient and sustainable city,” said Al-Mana.
Meanwhile, Msheireb Downtown Doha—the flagship project of Msheireb Properties—is recognized as the world’s first fully built smart and sustainable city district. Blending traditional Qatari architecture with state-of-the-art digital infrastructure, MDD stands as a beacon of intelligent urban planning, said the company in an earlier statement.
MDD: A Live Testbed for Future Technologies
Engineer Ali Al-Kuwari, CEO of Msheireb Properties, emphasized MDD’s unique role in reshaping the urban experience:
“MDD demonstrates how intelligent urban planning and smart technologies can transform cities while preserving cultural heritage.”
Last month, the company hosted ‘Downtown Tech’, a new platform that featured zones dedicated to AI, robotics, IoT, and autonomous vehicles—all linked through a centralized smart network, showcasing how technology and creativity converge in a real-world setting.
Ahmed Al-Korbi, Senior ICT Manager at Msheireb Properties, added that MDD operates more than 650,000 IoT-connected devices, making it one of the world’s most advanced smart environments.
Qatar as a Global Data Microcosm
Dr. Althaf emphasized Qatar’s unique value in AI training, particularly for large language models (LLMs). He noted that the cultural and linguistic diversity housed within just a few buildings in Doha could offer a rich dataset comparable to that of entire nations like India.
“Qatar is uniquely positioned as a young country with modern infrastructure, making it an ideal setting for AI research and testing,” he said. “I believe it has the potential to become a global model for urban living in the age of AI.”
Source: Gulf Times
