Global Scans · Cities · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Smart cities are the talk of the town right now and so they should be to cope when over 60% of us will live in cities by 2030. E-bikes, Driverless- connected vehicles, buildings that talk to each other will help but many cities are susceptible to climate change and pandemics. Explore the issues faced by cities and the new ideas that will change the way urban dwellers live in the 21st century.

• [New] As the Middle East accelerates digital transformation across smart cities, fintech, AI, and critical infrastructure, cybersecurity risk is rising at an unprecedented pace. Khaleej Times
• [New] Smart cities are expected to deliver large economic benefits of USD 20 trillion by 2026. Bayelsa Watch
• [New] About 70% of the world's population could be living in smart cities by 2050. Bayelsa Watch
• [New] Smart-city IoT cellular connections will grow at a 17.9% CAGR (2022-2027), exceeding 122 million. Bayelsa Watch
• [New] Waymo plans to expand its services to 20 new cities in 2026, including London and Tokyo, and has unveiled its sixth-generation Waymo Driver technology, which it says will improve performance and lower costs. National Today
• [New] Tesla has launched a small robotaxi service and plans to expand to a handful of U.S. cities by the first half of 2026, putting it in direct competition with industry leader Waymo, which is owned by Alphabet. WTVB | 1590 AM - 95.5 FM | The Voice of Branch County
• [New] Uber will deploy autonomous vehicles in Madrid in 2026, making the Spanish capital one of the first European cities with operational driverless taxis. Euronews
• [New] Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the coming year, driven by extensive infrastructure development, population growth, and quick urbanization in emerging economies. Precedence Research
• [New] From 2000 to 2030, the urban populations of Africa and Asia are expected to double, sharply increasing demand for a reliable water supply in cities. Bayelsa Watch
• [New] Urban extreme heat is an escalating climate risk across the Asia-Pacific region, driven by climate change, rapid urbanization, and existing social and economic vulnerabilities. Indico.UN (Indico)
• [New] By 2071-2100 in a high emissions scenario, only 5% of host cities could meet high-reliability thresholds, while 67% are projected to be unreliable. Visual Capitalist
• [New] Starting in 2026, Air Algerie will expand its reach to several new cities, enhancing global connections for both business and leisure travelers. Travel And Tour World
• [New] With advancing climate change, many areas of the world, including U.S. cities such as Miami, Houston, Phoenix and Las Vegas, will confront many more days each year hot enough to threaten human survival. PennLive
• [New] One of the world's fastest-growing large economies, India will see growing construction activity driven by domestic demand and public investment in infrastructure, transport, and cities. Global Construction Review
• [New] In the coming decade, there will be many billions of gadgets that will generate massive data streams, which will then converge with artificial intelligence to form intelligent ecosystems across homes, cities and industries (Smart Cities). GovCon Wire
• [New] As urban populations surge - with the United Nations projecting global urbanization will reach 68% by 2050 - the need for intelligent transit systems has never been more urgent. Saint Augustines University
• [New] The real-world test of the scaling model will be the launch of robotaxi services in seven new cities during the first half of 2026. Ainvest
• [New] 2026 regulatory approvals and seven-city expansion will test whether Cybercab can transition from tech demo to scalable infrastructure. Ainvest
• [New] Key Insight: With urbanization and climate volatility rising, hydroponic container farm systems are projected to supply up to 50% of fresh greens and herbs in cities by 2028, leveraging less land, less water, and greater yield predictability. Farmonaut
• [New] International rollout means autonomous ride-hailing will no longer be limited to a handful of American cities. WSYR
• [New] In a game-changing development for UAE travel, Etihad Rail is set to launch its highly anticipated high-speed passenger trains in 2026, connecting major cities including Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Travel And Tour World
• [New] With Abu Dhabi and Dubai being two of the world's most visited cities, the new rail system will make it easier for tourists to explore more of what the UAE has to offer. Travel And Tour World
• [New] Waymo, a pioneer in autonomous ride-hailing, continues to expand in select U.S. cities, showing that the self-driving revolution is accelerating faster than most car enthusiasts expected. Elite Traveler

Last updated: 28 February 2026