At the World Cities Summit, Surbana Jurong (SJ) Group announced on 15 June 2026 strategic collaborations with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) and the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) in Singapore.
The partnerships come as SJ Group unveiled at the Summit its focus on advancing Cognitive Cities, together with expanded capabilities such as climate advisory, to help cities respond to increasing climate pressures, system complexity, and rising expectations for liveability.
Sean Chiao, Group Chief Executive Officer, SJ Group, said, “The next leap for cities is not just to be smarter, but to become Cognitive Cities—more responsive, more regenerative, and more human. It means using AI and digital intelligence not only to optimise systems, but to create places where people, communities, and economies can thrive. Today’s announcements mark a significant step in SJ Group’s push to move cities beyond the smart city paradigm toward urban environments that learn, adapt, and actively restore value, for people, ecosystems, and future generations.”
Cross-border partnerships for urban development excellence
In line with this, SJ Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) to support the advancement of more integrated, sustainable, and digitally enabled urban systems.
The two-year collaboration will focus on advancing Cognitive Cities through digital governance, climate resilience and decarbonisation, investment and public-private partnership enablement, and strategic advisory across urban planning, infrastructure, and mobility. The collaboration will also promote knowledge exchange and capability development to support the delivery of future-ready urban environments.
His Excellency Abdulla Mohamed Al Blooshi, Director General, Urban Planning & Permits Centre, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport, said, "As cities continue to evolve in response to rapid urban growth, technological advancement and climate challenges, partnerships such as this play an important role in shaping more resilient, sustainable and future-ready communities. By combining global expertise with innovative planning approaches, we can accelerate the adoption of solutions that enhance liveability, strengthen urban resilience, and improve quality of life for current and future generations."
Together, the partners aim to explore innovative approaches that will help cities become more adaptive, data-informed, and responsive to the evolving needs of communities and economies.
Hassan Taleb, Regional Head, Africa, Middle East and Central Asia (AMECA), SJ Group, said, “With global expertise and deep local insights, SJ Group is well positioned to support Abu Dhabi’s next phase of urban development. From climate advisory to digital and infrastructure capabilities, we look forward to working closely with DMT to enable more connected and resilient urban systems.”
SJ Group has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Centre for Liveable Cities to jointly advance knowledge, research, and global discourse on Cognitive Cities, regenerative design, and climate resilience.
The partnership will focus on shaping how these approaches are understood and applied globally through joint research, publications, and knowledge-sharing platforms, translating insights into practical approaches that city leaders can implement.
Hugh Lim, Executive Director, Centre for Liveable Cities, said, “Cities today are navigating increasingly complex challenges, from climate resilience to rapid urbanisation. CLC has been advancing the concept of Regenerative Cities as an avenue for cities to become more liveable and resilient in the face of climate change. This MOU allows us to build on these efforts and share practical insights with cities around the world through collaboration in research and knowledge exchange.”
New tools for Cognitive Cities: Beyond Smart
To support city leaders and governments in prioritising action, SJ Group has developed two tools. The SJ Cognitive City Tool aims to help city leaders evaluate, benchmark, and advance their city’s cognitive maturity. This is complemented by the SJ Regenerative City Tool, which will help decision-makers define and measure what it means to create cities, communities, and projects that restore more than they take.
At the Summit, the China–Singapore Green Development Research (Suzhou Industrial Park) Co., Ltd, a joint venture between Suzhou Sungent Holding Group Co., Ltd, SJ Group, and Keppel Ltd., will also sign a Memorandum of Understanding with BCA International on 16 June. The partnership seeks to explore opportunities to support green, smart, and cognitively enabled buildings and urban environments across China and Southeast Asia.
