International Journal of Entrepreneurship Volume 25, Special Issue 1, 2021 1 1939-4675-25-S1-48 Volume 25, Special Issue Print ISSN: 1099 -9264 Online ISSN: 1939-4675 THE ROLE OF STRATEGIC LEADERS, IN BUILDING SMART SUSTAINABLE CITIES IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Halah Muneer Mahmood Yousfi, Universiti Utara Malaysia Badariah Haji Din, Universiti Utara Malaysia Rusdi Bin Omar, Universiti Utara Malaysia ABSTRACT Since the beginning of the twenty-first century and the beginning of the fourth industrial revolution and due to the rapid and advanced changes of the work system, sweeping the winds of change in the world, where the phenomenon of smart government has become more urgent with the increasing applications and artificial intelligence around the world. The main challenges of this study are to show the prominent role of strategic leaders to build an integrated smart city capable of responding to the changing needs of various government sectors and private sectors, managed by flexible strategic leaders, able to make investment decisions for the city, and to face global and regional challenges and changes. In addition to providing insight into the industries in various sectors, representing a massive revolution in the art of government and private sector management and intelligent building automated system to make sure the flow of data in real time easily and smoothly. And work to build an ideal platform of high quality concerned with the applications of "data principles and standards." of smart data to respond to the changing needs of the system of large cities to build an integrated automated system, based on open data sharing standards, to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of crisis and disaster management and risk management represented in identifying risks and disasters according to classification." Risk file. This mission can only be achieved under conscious leadership based on an advanced strategy that supports the culture of innovation and new practices, managed by leaders capable of making investment decisions for the city. According to previous literature and hundreds of research studies to study this phenomenon in accelerated areas of life, the new technological development has not been comprehensively kept pace with the building of a smart city based on its structure on a vision and the big data system (Chen et al., 2012), in line with creative thinking and strategic leadership for the quality of investment decisions and innovative expectations that have become a vital and indispensable component. For the continuation and prosperity of the organization's activity. Therefore, the United Arab Emirates attaches great importance to concerted efforts in ensuring a better life for future generations, directly affecting people's lives, such as health, education and the economy. In addition to the state’s keenness to build global partnerships. To enhance the utilization of the unprecedented services provided by artificial intelligence technologies, and their role in improving human life, which transcends geographical borders to include the entire world. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to study the relationship between the concept of a smart city, the objectives of building and analyzing its motives, and to clarify the technologies that support the city, and how to face the problems and challenges caused by big data for smart cities. In addition to the application of strategic leadership practices as the mainstay of development and the real wealth of the nation to bring about change and development, and the need to focus on the quality of investment decisions, and this task is not achieved except under conscious