This study aims to assess the potential role of smart urban technologies in enhancing citizens’ quality of life, with a particular focus on the case of Urmia city. The significance of this topic lies in the fact that contemporary cities face extensive challenges such as rapid population growth, increasing pressure on infrastructure, and the growing demand for sustainable services. Smart technologies can serve as effective tools to improve urban well-being and livability. Methodologically, this research is applied in nature and adopts a quantitative, descriptive–analytical approach. Data were collected through questionnaires administered to residents of Urmia and analyzed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique via SmartPLS software. In addition, the Importance–Performance Matrix Analysis (IPMA) was employed to identify policy priorities.

The findings revealed that among the various dimensions of the smart city concept, smart transportation, environmental quality, ICT infrastructure, and urban safety have significant positive effects on improving the quality of life, whereas smart governance and waste management did not exhibit notable impacts. The IPMA results further indicated that although transportation and environmental quality are of high importance, their current performance levels are relatively low and thus should be prioritized in policy-making. Overall, the results provide valuable insights for urban managers and policymakers, helping them to focus on critical domains and effectively enhance the quality of life of urban residents.