Abdulrahman Ibrahim

Abdulrahman Ibrahim is a recognised thought leader in sustainable smart cities and socio-economic development. He positioned Madinah City, Saudi Arabia, as a leading smart, sustainable city by innovating internationally award-winning solutions. 

Under his leadership, Madinah became the first Saudi and Arab Gulf city to publish its SDG Voluntary Local Review (VLR) in 2023, and the first Arabic city to publish its SDG Sub-National Review (VSR) in 2024. In 2025, Madinah published the Atlas of Sustainable Development in Madinah Neighbourhoods, the first of its kind globally. 

He is the co-author of ‘Cities in a Time of Global Emergencies: Can Smart Cities Help?’, published by IMD and Singapore University of Technology and Design. He was honoured with the World Innovation Award 2023 by the World Organisation for Development (WOD). A passionate advocate for SDG localisation, he champions using data, innovation, technology, and partnerships to drive inclusive and resilient urban transformation at both national and international levels.