Abu Dhabi has unveiled 29 agreements for the commercial deployment of autonomous mobility technologies, marking the emirate's biggest move yet to position itself at the forefront of next-generation transportation and logistics powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
Announced by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) during the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (ADAW), the agreements cover ground, air and industrial applications and bring together companies such as K2, LODD Autonomous, Autologix, Sinaha, TractEasy, MLG and Space42. More importantly, they represent a coordinated national effort to create a comprehensive ecosystem combining research and development, regulation, infrastructure and commercialization to accelerate autonomous systems from pilot to deployment.
While cities in the US, Europe and Asia are conducting separate tests, Abu Dhabi is developing what officials call an integrated, multimodal autonomy environment. Overseen by the Intelligent and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), the framework sets uniform rules and conditions for testing drones, ground robots, autonomous cargo vehicles and artificial intelligence-driven electric fleets.
“Abu Dhabi is leading the transformation in smart mobility and logistics,” said ADIO CEO Badr Al Olama. He called the 29 agreements “a defining moment for autonomous technology to function as a viable and vital part of the global economy.”
Projects include e-commerce delivery with Talabat, Noon and Aramex; cold chain medical transport with PureLab; logistics and robotics pilots from Sinahi; and the introduction of Level 4 driverless trucks through the Autologix and Emirates Post partnership. These initiatives operate within an overall regulatory and cybersecurity framework, and the infrastructure is designed for large-scale citywide assessment of how autonomous vehicles interact with roads, airspace and industrial areas.
Abu Dhabi Autonomy Week: a platform for global cooperation
Abu Dhabi Autonomy Week is the emirate's new strategic platform for smart mobility and autonomous systems. Organized by SASC, ADAW brings together policymakers, researchers, founders and global manufacturers in land, air, sea and robotics. The week includes the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit, DRIFTx, RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 and the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL).
ADAW reflects a shift in Abu Dhabi's industrial strategy: rather than accepting autonomy once it has matured, the emirate is seeking to shape the standards, engineering practices and safety systems that will shape technology around the world. One of the most prominent examples of this approach is A2RL, the world's first high-speed auto racing league using only artificial intelligence. A2RL is conceived as a research platform in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous mobility.
In an interview with Computer Weekly, Stefan Timpano, CEO, Aspire, ATRC, the organization behind A2RL, said the initiative is changing the way autonomy is tested: “Abu Dhabi is turning race tracks into laboratories. Every lap, every overtake, every algorithmic decision is a glimpse into the future of mobility.”
The A2RL cars use a standardized chassis derived from Super Formula, equipped with a UAE-developed sensor stack, on-board computing platform and a real-time perception system. Teams compete solely on algorithmic performance.
The races replicate the stresses that self-driving vehicles face on public roads: GPS outages, sensor failures, unpredictable human maneuvers and split-second decisions at speeds exceeding 250 km/h. Information flows directly into the Advanced Technology Research Council's (ATRC) research arm, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), as well as commercial routes through VentureOne.
“A2RL is deeply integrated into the UAE innovation ecosystem,” Timpano said. “What we learn along the way applies to logistics, smart city planning and even climate technology.”
Beyond racing, Abu Dhabi is building a vertically integrated deep technology model, with Aspire developing complex programs and grand competitions, TII advancing fundamental research in artificial intelligence, autonomy, robotics and advanced materials, and VentureOne commercializing breakthroughs through startup incubation and global investment. This alignment allows research, regulation and commercialization to advance simultaneously.
The emirate's pilots are illustrating this model in action, with K2 deploying AI-enabled electric vehicles for last- and middle-mile delivery, LODD flying medical and logistics drones along Abu Dhabi's air corridors, and Sinaha scaling autonomous ground vehicles and intelligent warehouse automation.
Technology adoption is only part of the strategy. Abu Dhabi is also building the workforce needed to support a self-sustaining future. A2RL's STEM programs teach Emirati students how to program drones, develop flight controls using artificial intelligence, and build autonomous systems. A recent UNICEF partnership trained more than 100 Emirati students in drone design and AI navigation, with 60% receiving an international drone operator certificate.
