San Francisco: The Smart City Council (SCC) and the International Free Zone Authority (IFZA), Dubai's leading Free Zone community, have collaborated to advance a shared vision for innovation, focusing on building inclusive, sustainable, and connected cities. This strategic partnership was highlighted during the recently concluded Smart Cities Summit North America 2025, held in San Francisco, which attracted over 450 senior leaders from government, business, and academia under the theme 'Public Safety, AI, and the Middle East in Focus.'
According to Emirates News Agency, the summit explored the intersection of smart cities and free zones as engines of social transformation through economic innovation. Holger Schlechter, CFO of IFZA, emphasized Dubai's potential as a future city, stating, "Dubai represents more than just an economic opportunity; it represents a vision of what future cities can be." He highlighted the partnership's role in building connections, sharing insights, and creating new pathways for international tech entrepreneurs, reflecting the synergy between the United States and the UAE across various industries.
The collaboration between Smart Cities Council and IFZA also led to the announcement of two joint venture organizations: Smart Cities Council Middle East, which aims to meet the growing demand for smart city solutions in the Middle East, and Smart Cities Academy, a platform dedicated to smart city education and training. Corey Gray, President of Smart Cities Council, remarked on the collaboration's potential, stating, "By connecting Silicon Valley's innovation with Dubai's dynamic business environment, we aim to create a powerful launchpad for entrepreneurs to test, adapt, and deploy their smart solutions globally."
Dubai, currently ranked 4th globally in the 2025 IMD Smart Cities Index, serves as a benchmark for smart urban development with its world-class infrastructure, digital public services, and forward-looking policies. The city is a launching pad for transformative regional projects like NEOM in Saudi Arabia and New Cairo in Egypt, offering international innovators access to high-growth opportunities across the Middle East.
In addition, IFZA announced the launch of Scale360, an open innovation platform based in Dubai designed to connect global startups with corporate partners, investors, and market access. Developed in partnership with Plug and Play, Scale360 underscores IFZA's expanding role in supporting business transformation in addition to business setup.