First smart and autonomous mobility testing centre to open in Abu Dhabi: What you need to know

Abu Dhabi: The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), part of the Department of Municipalities and Transport and operating under the supervision of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, has announced the development of the Abu Dhabi Smart and Autonomous Mobility Systems Testing Centre — the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa. The initiative is being undertaken in collaboration with strategic partners Space42, Masdar City, and Emirates Driving Company.

The announcement was made during Drift X 2025, held as part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Week, where ITC signed a cooperation agreement with the three partners to advance the project. The first phase will involve feasibility studies and design development, scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, paving the way for the establishment of a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to autonomous driving technologies in the UAE.

This initiative underscores Abu Dhabi’s leadership as a global hub for smart and autonomous mobility, supported by its advanced legislative framework and world-class infrastructure. It also reinforces the emirate’s commitment to driving digital transformation, innovation, and sustainability in the transport sector.

The Abu Dhabi Smart and Autonomous Mobility Systems Testing Centre will serve as a world-class facility for testing, validating, and certifying autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies. It aims to enhance national capabilities in the development and deployment of intelligent mobility systems, aligning with Abu Dhabi’s digital transformation vision and the UAE’s Artificial Intelligence and Smart Cities Strategy.

The centre will play a pivotal role in building local expertise in autonomous systems by providing advanced testing environments that simulate real-world conditions — including urban, suburban, and mixed-use scenarios — to comprehensively evaluate the performance of autonomous driving technologies across diverse operational domains.

Equipped with cutting-edge sensor networks and digital twin technologies, the centre will integrate real-time monitoring and data analysis systems to ensure seamless coordination with Abu Dhabi’s broader digital ecosystem. This includes the Autonomous Vehicles Integrated Testing Operations Management System (AViTOMS), as well as traffic management and incident response platforms — enhancing safety, operational efficiency, and decision-making processes.

Dr Abdulla Hamad Al Ghafli, Acting Director General of the Integrated Transport Centre, emphasized that establishing the Abu Dhabi Smart and Autonomous Mobility Systems Testing Centre marks a strategic milestone in building an integrated ecosystem that supports the safe and innovative deployment of autonomous vehicles. He noted that the project reflects strong collaboration between the public, private, and academic sectors, reaffirming ITC’s commitment to positioning Abu Dhabi as a regional hub for smart mobility and autonomous systems, and as an attractive destination for investment in future technologies — ultimately enhancing quality of life and supporting the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031.

Ahmed Baghoum, CEO of Masdar City, stated that the city represents a leading platform for innovation and sustainable urban development, where smart mobility and autonomous vehicles transition from concept to reality.

He highlighted that the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster offers a comprehensive pathway for innovators to test, validate, and scale their projects. The free zone, he added, serves as the meeting point of ambition and execution, enabling the integration of advanced technologies within robust governance frameworks.

Baghoum further noted that this direction embodies the Falcon Economy concept and strengthens Abu Dhabi’s role as a regional centre for smart transportation — across air, land, and sea — calling on global companies and innovators to build, test, and scale next-generation autonomous systems.

The project reflects ITC’s ongoing commitment to its regulatory and policy-making role in advancing the adoption of smart and autonomous mobility technologies according to the highest safety and operational efficiency standards, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s vision to become a global centre for intelligent mobility innovation and application.