Women empowerment holds immense significance in the broader framework of sustainable development and the vision of smart cities. Sustainable development emphasizes the balance between economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection, and within this balance, gender equality and women’s active participation become essential drivers of inclusive progress. Women empowerment is not only a matter of social justice but also a practical necessity for societies aiming to achieve equitable development, innovation, and resilience. In the context of smart cities, where technology and sustainability converge to improve the quality of life, empowering women ensures that growth does not remain restricted to certain sections but becomes holistic, benefiting the entire population. At its core, sustainable development rests on the principle of inclusivity. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognize gender equality as both a goal in itself (SDG 5) and as a cross-cutting factor that influences other goals such as poverty reduction, quality education, decent work, health, and climate action. Women represent half of the population and possess enormous potential to contribute to economic, social, and environmental progress. However, historically, structural inequalities, patriarchal norms, and limited access to resources have prevented women from fully participating in decision-making processes, workforce participation, and leadership roles. Empowering women means dismantling these barriers and ensuring that women have equal opportunities in education, healthcare, technology, entrepreneurship, and governance. This shift is essential not only for fairness but also for efficiency, as empowered women contribute positively to household welfare, community resilience, and national productivity. Economically, women empowerment significantly boosts sustainable development. Studies have consistently shown that when women are given