Dubai’s International Free Zone Authority (IFZA) has announced that it will serve as the key partner for the upcoming Smart Cities Summit North America (SCSNA), scheduled for May 6-8, 2025, at the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco. This collaboration includes organizations like the Charter Cities Institute, Deep Tech Week, Leading Cities, and the Smart Cities Council, aiming to gather over 450 global experts from government, business, and academia. The summit will focus on the theme “Public Safety, AI, and Africa & Middle East in Focus,” emphasizing the impact of innovation and policy on urban living.

At the event, IFZA plans to lead multiple sessions, including a keynote address from Holger Schlechter, IFZA’s CFO. Schlechter will highlight Dubai’s role as a global business gateway and share IFZA’s vision for fostering international entrepreneurship, enhancing digital economies, and attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the UAE. He expressed that the summit represents a significant step in IFZA’s expansion into the US, noting that “San Francisco and Silicon Valley represent the very spirit of entrepreneurship.”

Corey Gray, Chair and President of Smart Cities Council, remarked on the strategic relationship between the UAE and the USA. He mentioned that the UAE had announced a $1.4 trillion investment in the US, focusing on advanced manufacturing, energy, and AI, showcasing the strong ties that support the summit’s objectives. He added that Dubai could serve as a launchpad for broader engagement in the Middle East and Africa, aligning with the summit’s goals.

As the regional lead for the Smart Cities Council, IFZA is dedicated to building connections and sharing expertise, enabling international innovators to expand smart city solutions globally. This mission aligns with the ongoing partnership between the UAE and the US, which has been strengthening in sectors like AI, clean energy, and infrastructure. The UAE remains a key economic partner for the US, with over 1 500 American companies operating in the country, including major firms like Microsoft and Uber.

The summit will further enhance dialogue on joint investments in technology and innovation, following recent UAE–USA bilateral discussions. Delegations from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman are expected to participate, aiming to unlock new opportunities for collaboration. The Smart Cities Summit represents a crucial component of IFZA’s strategic roadmap for engagement in the US, alongside participation in several other notable events throughout the year.