Abu Dhabi: Leading the Future of Smart and Autonomous Technology
As a global leader in smart and autonomous technology, Abu Dhabi is redefining the future of mobility and automation across industries.
Its unwavering commitment to fostering a thriving, competitive, and innovation-driven ecosystem that enhances efficiency, connectivity, and quality of life is underpinned by the emirate’s leadership which is actively steering the autonomous agenda to ensure its progress and impact.
An initial progressive step was the establishment of the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster in 2023. SAVI was launched by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, as part of Abu Dhabi’s vision to shape the future of smart and autonomous technology.
Today, SAVI plays a central role in advancing the autonomous sector by creating opportunities for global companies to develop, commercialise, and deploy, cutting-edge solutions in Abu Dhabi, reinforcing its position as a global hub for smart mobility innovation.
To further advance this vision, His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan established the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), chaired by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs.
SASC plays a pivotal role in shaping policies, fostering collaboration, and setting the strategic direction for Abu Dhabi’s autonomous ecosystem to drive innovation and investment.
With strong government backing, world-class infrastructure, and a progressive regulatory framework, Abu Dhabi is driving innovation in smart mobility and autonomous technology across land, sea, air, and emerging industrial applications.
Embedding efficiency, safety, and sustainability at the core of these advances, the emirate has established itself as a global leader in autonomous systems and intelligent mobility solutions.
About The Smart and Autonomous Systems Council
His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, issued a resolution to establish the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC) in mid-2024.
Since then, SASC has overseen the development of smart and autonomous technologies across Abu Dhabi, acting as the industry’s regulator, driving sector strategy and policy, and actively attracting local, regional and international investment.
SASC Remit
SASC’s remit encompasses autonomous public transport and delivery infrastructure, including electric-powered ground and air-based vehicles, AI-led smart services across-various sectors, as well as security and emergency services applications.
The council’s ongoing commitment towards supporting Abu Dhabi’s smart and autonomous sector, in line with the emirate’s wider technological and digital transformation framework, serves to further highlight Abu Dhabi as a global leader in the development of future technologies.
SASC is leading the advance of a supportive and attractive environment for the development and use of smart and autonomous systems across Abu Dhabi. Such systems include autonomous public and logistics transportation across land, sea, air, and emerging industrial applications, as well as smart city and digital transformation initiatives.
To ensure their safe implementation across the emirate, the council has developed a comprehensive strategy for the operation and use of smart and autonomous systems, and related activities, coordinated with all relevant Abu Dhabi Government entities and in line with global best practices.
The strategy is not only contributing towards attracting continuous investment in the sector, but also further highlights the emirate as a leading global destination for the smart and autonomous systems industry.
Among its objectives, SASC supports practices and activities related to smart and autonomous systems, including the ongoing development and implementation of operational infrastructure, in collaboration with various Abu Dhabi Government entities and partners.
SASC is also driving several incentives, initiatives and projects to achieve its objectives across the sector. These include strategic investments, regulatory implementation, research and development, and the formation of collaborative operational teams comprising industry experts, advisers and technicians, in coordination with relevant federal entities.
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