Abu Dhabi Mobility wants to increase the percentage of trips using autonomous vehicles to 25% of the total trips in the emirate by 2040.

The smart mobility project has achieved significant success in its first and second phases on both Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, and has been expanded to include Zayed International Airport. It partners with Uber and Space 42 to operate autonomous vehicle services in Abu Dhabi.

As part of its efforts to provide smart and advanced transport, the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities & Transport, announced the completion of approximately 30,000 autonomous vehicle service trips in Abu Dhabi, covering a distance of more than 430,000km.

Building on the success of the project in Yas and Saadiyat Islands during the first and second phases, the scope of autonomous vehicle operations will be expanded to include the access roads to and from Zayed International Airport. This expansion is part of Abu Dhabi Mobility’s plan for the gradual rollout of services in new areas across the emirate.

This expansion is part of Abu Dhabi’s efforts to develop the smart transport sector by promoting the use of technologies in sustainable mobility. In line with its active role in expanding innovative transport services, Abu Dhabi Mobility is partnering with Space 42 (space42.ai) and Uber (www.uber.com) to operate autonomous taxis in the city, with a plan for gradual expansion into new areas across Abu Dhabi.

“This expansion marks a strategic step towards developing Abu Dhabi’s smart transport ecosystem,” said Abdulla Al Ghafli, acting director-general of the Integrated Transport Centre. “We continue to enhance the digital and regulatory infrastructure to ensure the seamless integration of autonomous vehicles into the existing transport network, adhering to the highest standards of safety and efficiency. Additionally, we are committed to adopting the latest technologies to ensure the reliable and secure operation of these vehicles, aligning with Abu Dhabi’s vision for a sustainable and advanced transport sector. Abu Dhabi Mobility has established a comprehensive framework to regulate the autonomous vehicle sector, which includes developing specialised insurance models, enhancing digital infrastructure and securing communication networks against cyber threats. We are also working on advancing legislative frameworks for licensing and regulating the operation of these vehicles, ensuring their compliance with the highest standards of safety and operational efficiency.”

Through its current plan to develop the autonomous mobility sector, Abu Dhabi Mobility aims to achieve several objectives by 2040, including increasing the percentage of trips using autonomous vehicles to 25% of total trips in Abu Dhabi, reducing carbon emissions by 15% and decreasing road accidents by 18%.

This smart mobility project is part of Abu Dhabi Mobility’s efforts to develop a sustainable transport system that aligns with the latest global advancements. It also represents an initiative in the integration of AI into the transport network to enhance operational efficiency.

Additionally, Abu Dhabi Mobility is testing autonomous vehicles in collaboration with its partners while overseeing operational processes to ensure compliance with traffic laws and regulations. It seeks to increase public awareness of these services and encourage their adoption. Since their launch, no incidents have been recorded, reflecting the level of safety these autonomous vehicles provide in an urban transport setting.

Furthermore, Abu Dhabi Mobility (admobility.gov.ae) reaffirms its commitment to developing future transport options, reinforcing the emirate’s position as a global hub for innovation in smart mobility and the adoption of autonomous transport in line with international best practices.

• Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service Apollo Go (www.apollo.auto/apollo-self-driving) has entered a partnership with Autogo (www.autogo.ai), a UAE-based autonomous mobility company and subsidiary brand of Kintsugi Holding, with the goal of deploying the largest fully driverless fleet in Abu Dhabi.