Abu Dhabi to form Smart and Autonomous Systems Council
New council to oversee policy, strategy and operations for autonomous systems
#UAE #smartmobility - Abu Dhabi will form a new Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC) to oversee policy, strategy and operations of smart and autonomous systems in the emirate. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has issued a resolution to establish the new body. The emirate announced its intention to become a global hub for smart mobility last year, with plans to create a Smart & Autonomous Vehicle Industry cluster, or SAVI.
SO WHAT? - Launched by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) in October 2023, the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster is forecast to contribute AED 90 - 120 billion ($24.5m - $33m) to the UAE economy and generate 30,000-50,000 jobs. Global developers of smart mobility systems have already committed to the cluster, including vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer Archer, eVTOL aircraft company Joby Aviation, and autonomous vehicle services pioneer WeRide.
Meanwhile, autonomous vehicle service trials have been running in Abu Dhabi since 2021, operated by The Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi and G42 geospatial services company Bayanat. In addition, both Archer and Joby Aviation have said that they could launch air taxi services between Abu Dhabi and Dubai as early as next year. However, prior to the announcement of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC) this week, there was no dedicate authority to oversee the smart mobility sector and to coordinate the activities of different government departments.
Here are some key details concerning the sector and announcement:
H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, issued a resolution to establish the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC).
The SASC council members include: Major General Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Abu Dhabi Police Commander-in-Chief; Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, CEO of ADNOC and the COP28 UAE President; H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT); H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED); H.E. Faisal Abdulaziz Al Bannai, technology advisor to the UAE president, Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) and chairman of defence technology group EDGE; Maryam Eid AlMheiri, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Media Office (ADMO); and Sultan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri.
- more to come -
Read more about smart mobility in Abu Dhabi:
Root4AI to fast-track autonomous systems (Middle East AI News)
eVTOL firm Archer to manufacture in Abu Dhabi (Middle East AI News)
Abu Dhabi confirms anchor deals for SAVI (Middle East AI News)
Abu Dhabi announces new smart mobility cluster (Middle East AI News)
G42 starts driverless taxi service trials in Abu Dhabi (Middle East AI News)