The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Participatory Urban Planning: Enhancing Citizen Engagement in Smart Saudi Cities—The Case of Dammam Metropolitan Area, Saudi Arabia

This study investigates the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in enhancing citizen engagement within participatory urban planning in the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA), Saudi Arabia. As per Vision 2030, Saudi cities are undergoing rapid digital transformation; however, mechanisms to embed citizen participation in smart urban governance remain limited. This research utilizes a mixed-methods approach. It integrates quantitative survey data from 260 stakeholders, including citizens, planners, officials, and academics, with qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended feedback to assess awareness, adoption, institutional readiness, and barriers related to AI–IoT integration in participatory planning. Findings reveal that while AI and IoT applications are increasingly used in DMA’s smart city initiatives, such as traffic optimization, e-government services, environmental monitoring, and waste management, their implementation largely prioritizes automation and efficiency over collaborative decision-making. Fragmented institutional coordination, limited digital literacy, low trust in data-driven systems, and weak feedback mechanisms form the key challenges. Respondents emphasized the need for transparent, interactive, and inclusive digital platforms to help citizens co-shape urban futures. This study contributes to the growing discourse on smart and connected urban governance by offering evidence-based recommendations to integrate AI and IoT within participatory frameworks. It advocates for increased civic inclusion through improved digital infrastructure, inter-agency collaboration, and trust-building measures. The findings offer practical insights for mid-sized Gulf cities seeking to align technological innovation with inclusive governance and Sustainable Development Goal 11.