Localizing the Globalized—How Not to Fail in Smart Cities Frameworks

Smart Cities are viewed by a few as a show, by others as a trend, but by many as a necessity. To cope with the growing pressures of urbanization and the complications of citizens’ urban needs, an integrated hi-tech solution is needed. After all, many renowned cities around the world are adopting it: London, Dubai, Cape Town and many others. Is there a set-menu to adopt for a smart city approach? Should urbanists seek set standards for quality assurance or develop localized approaches? This research is the findings of an 18-month-long in-depth analysis using extensive case studies and detailed interviews with state-of-the-art experts in the making of Smart Cities around the world. The findings were collaborated by local industry specialists to reach a localized model that adapts the Smart City approach to Egypt. The findings challenge many conventional stereotypes about the concepts and perceptions that impede Smart Cities. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.