Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre Announces Development of MENA’s First Autonomous Vehicle Test Hub
Source: WAM
The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport and under the supervision of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), announced the development of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Test Hub, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa. The project is being delivered in collaboration with Space42, Masdar City, and Emirates Driving Company.
The announcement was made during DRIFTx 2025, held as part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (ADAW) organised by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC) in Abu Dhabi. The Integrated Transport Centre signed a cooperation agreement with the three partners to develop the project. Phase one will cover studies and design work, scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, paving the way for an advanced and fully integrated facility dedicated to autonomous driving technologies in the UAE.
This initiative reaffirms Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading destination for smart mobility and autonomous systems, underpinned by progressive regulation and advanced infrastructure that drive digital transformation, innovation, and sustainability across the transport sector.
The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Vehicle Test Hub will be a world-class facility for testing, validating, and certifying autonomous vehicle technologies in the country, strengthening the country’s capability to develop, test, and accredit smart mobility solutions. It aligns with Abu Dhabi’s digital transformation agenda and the UAE’s AI and smart cities strategies.
The hub will be a cornerstone for building national expertise in self-driving systems. It will provide an advanced testing ecosystem that replicates operating conditions across city centres, suburban areas, and mixed-use environments, enabling comprehensive assessment of autonomous driving performance across different operational design domains (ODDs). The facility will feature advanced sensing networks, digital-twin capabilities, and real-time monitoring and data analytics systems to ensure seamless integration with Abu Dhabi’s digital platforms, including the Autonomous Vehicles Integrated Testing, Operations, and Management System (AViTOMS), as well as traffic-management and incident-response systems, enhancing operational safety and decision-making efficiency.
