Smart cities are the pathway to the future. Dubai is amongst the leading metropolitan areas in the world to implement ambitious projects and strategies which would transform the way that private and public services are provided to the residents. A city can position itself on the global socio-economic landscape through the provision of smart technologies. Airports which serve as a key gateway and transportation to Dubai, are an essential priority to adopt smart technology to ensure safety and accessibility. Dubai’s Vision   * The Dubai 2021 vision is a framework introduced to develop the city with a holistic and comprehensive perspective.   * It is a plan to deliver the aspirations of the city, society in order to set and achieve necessary goals for the growth of the urban environment.   * It is focused on improving the living experience of residents, their interaction with the environment, as well as economic and social services that are provided.   * Also, the plan is meant to improve and diversify the economy as the mechanism which drives city growth (Government of Dubai, 2016). Figure 1: Dubai’s 2021 Vision Framework.   * One of Dubai 2021 key themes is “The Place: a smart and sustainable city” (Government of Dubai, 2016, p. 7).   * It focuses on a smart, connectable, and integrated infrastructure and services. The infrastructure should ensure mobility for residents and tourists by providing access to economic and social centers in the city.   * Furthermore, Dubai’s growth should be sustainable, adhere to regulations, and seek to preserve natural resources. Figure 2: Dubai’s Smart City Aims. Income Breakdown   * Dubai has radically redefined its economy in recent decades. It has used the strategic geographical location to become an important tourist destination and economic center.   * To survive the volatility of global oil prices and lowered demand, Dubai chose to diversify its economy. Oil production which used to contribute upward of 50% to Dubai’s GDP, now contributes less than 1% (“Dubai economy,” n.d.).   * Unlike most Middle Eastern cities, since 2003, company equity and real-estate share prices no longer depend on the price of crude oil. This has led for the seven major companies of Dubai’s real estate and construction sector to produce a 789 percent total return (Winkler, 2018).   * In 2004, the Dubai International Financial Centre was built which propelled the city into a global hub for IT and finance. The city has become a major center for IT companies and services in the Middle East, serving as headquarters to leading global technology firms and media organizations.   * One of the sectors of the economy that Dubai is developing is tourism. It has seen significant success as tourist rates continue to increase year over year. In 2017, the city welcomed 15.8 million tourists, which is a 6.2 percent increase from the year before. Analysts expect the number to reach 20 million by 2020. Meanwhile, the hospitality sector is valued at $5.9 billion currently and is expected to reach $7.6 billion in 2022 (Mallinson, 2018). Airport Rankings   * Airports have rankings assigned to them based on a variety of factors.   * Some rankings focus on architecture, infrastructure, and quality