The WeGO EXCOM Meeting 2025 successfully hosted by the Department of Municipalities and Transport of Abu Dhabi, UAE
Abu Dhabi, October 31st — The WeGO Executive Committee (EXCOM) Meeting is an annual governance meeting of WeGO EXCOM members to review WeGO’s activities, accomplishments, and decide on the key directions of WeGO’s future initiatives. The EXCOM Meeting serves as WeGO’s highest governance platform, where members evaluate the organization’s achievements and set strategic directions for the upcoming year.
This year’s EXCOM was hosted by one of WeGO’s honorable members, Abu Dhabi, with the theme of “Driving Urban Transformation through AI and Smart Mobility in the MENA Region,” with a presence of 120 live participants. The summit aligns closely with WeGO’s mission and priorities while exploring the latest advancements in mobile technology and AI across the MENA region.
Abu Dhabi has emerged as a regional leader in smart city innovation, with a strong emphasis on harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to improve urban life and public services. Through initiatives led by the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA), the city has integrated AI across critical sectors such as transportation, healthcare, education, and public safety. Notable projects include AI-powered traffic management systems, predictive maintenance for public infrastructure, and smart government platforms that streamline citizen services through machine learning algorithms. Abu Dhabi is also home to advanced research centers such as the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world’s first graduate-level, research-based AI university, which plays a central role in building AI talent and driving innovation. These efforts reflect the city’s commitment to becoming one of the most technologically advanced and sustainable urban centers in the MENA region.
The 2025 WeGO Executive Committee Meeting in Abu Dhabi brought together distinguished leaders and high-level representatives from member cities and institutions. The Opening Keynote Address was delivered by H.E. Dr. Saif Al Nasri, Undersecretary of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), followed by a Keynote Address from Mr. Jeong-kee Kim, Secretary General of WeGO.
High-level participants included His Excellency Dr Omar Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Information Technology Affairs Section, Ms. Gabriela Brito, Deputy Mayor for Smart Cities and Urban Planning of Cuenca, Ecuador, Ms. Junghwa Lee, Deputy Mayor of Goyang, South Korea, His Excellency Idálio D’Aguiar Juvane, Deputy Mayor of Maputo, Mozambique, Hon. Pablo C. Ortega, City Vice Mayor of San Fernando, La Union, Philippines, His Excellency Dato’ Hj Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid, Mayor of Seberang Perai, Malaysia, His Excellency Sheikh Saud Al Qasimi, Director General of the Sharjah Digital Department. These high-level exchanges were further enriched by a Mayors’ Roundtable, including agendas on digital governance, AI in urban management, and financing mechanisms for smart city projects, underscoring WeGO’s role as a global platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing among cities.
The program of the 2025 WeGO EXCOM Meeting featured a series of high-level sessions and networking activities. A High-Level Panel Discussion on “Shaping the Next Generation of Smart Cities” explored the transformative impact of evolving AI technologies on public services, urban management, and decision-making processes, while also addressing the governance challenges of large-scale implementation. The Mayoral Roundtable on “Advancing Smart Cities through Regional Collaboration” emphasized the importance of cross-regional cooperation, showcasing impactful initiatives, knowledge sharing, and coordinated efforts that strengthen digital capabilities and foster long-term sustainable development.
In his opening address, H.E. Dr. Saif Al Nasri, Undersecretary of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, emphasized Abu Dhabi’s strategic vision for smart governance and digital infrastructure, reaffirming the city’s readiness to lead MENA-wide smart city initiatives through its role as WeGO’s Regional Office for the MENA Region.
During the EXCOM session, chaired by WeGO’s President City and represented by Mr. Hong-seok Koo, Ambassador for International Relations of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, members approved nine key agenda items. These included WeGO’s work plan and budget for the coming year. Additionally, ten new members were welcomed into the network, comprising four local governments, four institutions and two corporations.
In addition to the core sessions, the program featured a Certificate Ceremony for WeGO’s new members, followed by the symbolic Opening Ceremony of the WeGO Latin America Regional Office. On this occasion, the Deputy Mayor of Cuenca symbolically cut the ribbon and delivered her remarks. Additionally, WeGO organized a WeGO Dinner and hosted members and partners by providing further opportunities for networking and exchange among delegates. The host city, Abu Dhabi, also organized cultural and technical tours, including visits to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Emirates Palace, alongside a dedicated technical tour that highlighted Abu Dhabi’s advanced urban solutions. These activities allowed participants to engage not only in policy discussions but also in cultural exchange and first-hand learning of best practices.
With a strong focus on innovation and collaboration, the 2025 EXCOM provided a platform for international delegates to explore the latest advancements in mobile technology and AI across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The event underlined Abu Dhabi’s commitment to fostering international cooperation and accelerating digital transformation in line with global sustainable development goals.
About WeGO
The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), is a membership-based international association of local governments, smart tech solution providers, and institutions committed to the transformation of cities into smart sustainable cities through facilitating public-private partnerships (PPP). WeGO was founded by 50 member cities in 2010 as the World e-Governments Organization, hence our acronym. In response to the evolving concept of smart cities, WeGO expanded its vision and mandate at the 4th General Assembly (2017) and its name to the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization. WeGO’s Secretariat is based in Seoul, Korea, and has regional offices in East Asia (Chengdu, China), Africa (Abuja, Nigeria), Middle East & North Africa (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), Latin America (Cuenca, Ecuador), and Central Asia (Almaty, Kazakhstan). As the leading platform on smart city development, WeGO’s mission is to share knowledge and good practices in e-Governance; strengthen administrative efficiency and transparency; advance digital capacity; facilitate civic involvement; bridge the digital divide and inequality; and promote cooperation solidarity among cities and local governments around the world.
WeGO serves for its members as their international platform to improve the quality of life, innovate in the delivery of public services, and strengthen regional competitiveness.
Press Contact:
Name: Junho Jeong
E-mail: j.jeong@we-gov.org
Phone: +82-70-4202-9169