The UAE capital leverages AI, sustainability, and global partnerships to transform urban mobility and infrastructure
Abu Dhabi is rapidly establishing itself as a global leader in technology-driven urban development. Through platforms like LivAI and strategic initiatives spanning electric vehicles, autonomous transport, and smart infrastructure, the emirate has achieved a 70 percent reduction in building permit processing times while rising to fifth globally in the IMD Smart City Index.
In this interview with Economy Middle East, H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), highlights how international partnerships and a comprehensive governance framework are accelerating this transformation while maintaining safety and inclusivity.
Q: What are the main directions of Abu Dhabi’s urban plan in terms of aligning with the emirate’s long-term vision on technology, sustainability, and liveability, along with the infrastructural priorities?
Abu Dhabi’s urban planning focuses on measurable improvements in residents’ quality of life while firmly establishing the emirate as a global leader in technology-enabled, sustainable urban development.
It is embedded in our governance structures, budget allocations, and delivery mechanisms spanning Abu Dhabi City and both Al Ain, and Al Dhafra Regions.
Our Liveability Strategy translates our overarching vision into district-by-district objectives with clear completion scores. Since 2023, we have increased average district completion scores from 67 percent to 81 percent through various initiatives, and projects worth AED 12 billion.
Technology integration is central to our approach. The LivAI platform, showcased at GITEX Global 2025, provides real-time insights into quality of life across Abu Dhabi through dynamic 3D modeling and digital twin features. This system allows planners and decision-makers to carry out predictive analytics to support effective resource allocation.
The recently launched Binaa platform has also improved efficiency in reducing processing times for issuing building permits. Its advanced capabilities also identify ‘over designs’ which basically means designs that unnecessarily increase the project costs and the building materials needed.
The platform incorporates an advanced AI review tool capable of analyzing 2D models of current or older buildings requiring adjustments or improvements, ensuring precision, adherence to regulations, and alignment with Abu Dhabi’s building standards.
Regulators, engineers, and property owners all benefit from this platform. Since its introduction, processing times have been reduced by up to 70 percent, and applications that previously took several days are now finalized within 24 hours.
Collectively, our practices make the emirate an increasingly attractive location for the diverse economic activities we are seeking to attract and creates an environment that allow multiple sectors to flourish.
We now rank as the most liveable city in the region and fifth globally in the IMD Smart City Index, rising nine places in five years. This reflects intelligent transportation systems, smart utilities, strong public services, and a data-driven approach using pioneering technologies.
Q: How does DMT use AI and other smart city technologies in the optimization of urban planning, and what opportunities are there for private sector participation across Abu Dhabi’s transport network?
We are using digital tools to elevate every aspect of life in the emirate, leveraging data, artificial intelligence, and integrated platforms to enhance decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and deliver responsive governance.
DMT deploys AI and smart city advancements as part of our integrated approach rather than standalone tools. This strategy improves efficiency while creating meaningful partnership opportunities for technology providers.
For example, our recently announced Real-time Intelligent Traffic Safety Management System allows urban planners to track crash hotspots, monitor near-misses, and anticipate collisions across all vehicle types, generating safety improvements and infrastructure insights benefiting the entire network.
Our approach is to maintain and improve what works, introduce new technologies where they add value and ensure infrastructure serves all based on needs, as opposed to forcing adoption.
For private sector participation in transport, Abu Dhabi offers operational deployment at scale. The partnerships that we have with local and global companies is testament to this fact.
When working with international firms we put emphasis on utilizing Abu Dhabi-based consultants, contractors, and suppliers, ensuring such relationships contribute to local expertise and economy.
What we seek are long-term partners genuinely invested in building the future alongside us, that can match our pace, adapt quickly, and advance solutions proactively.
Abu Dhabi offers what many global jurisdictions cannot: Coordinated government frameworks, testing infrastructure that de-risks innovation, and pathways from pilot to commercial rollout backed by substantial capital commitments.
The question for potential investors is not whether to engage with Abu Dhabi, but how quickly they can move to participate in a transformation already underway.
Q: How does DMT balance conventional transport systems with future-oriented mobility solutions such as electric and autonomous vehicles?
We are building a transport ecosystem where conventional systems, electric vehicles, and automated technologies work together. Our public transport network continues to show strong performance and reflects genuine demand. This can be demonstrated by the more than 90 million rides on public buses last year. The transition to electric mobility networks spans municipal fleets and private vehicles.
Our systematic expansion of EV charging networks, coupled with grid capacity planning and renewable energy integration, creates the enabling conditions for widespread electric vehicle adoption.
The use of EVs and hybrid vehicles has increased by 61 percent at the start of 2025 compared to Q1 last year. Several private partnerships have resulted in more charging stations being rolled out across the emirate. Furthermore, 1,000 new charging points were installed at 400 strategic locations across Abu Dhabi Island, Al Ain and the Al Dhafra region as part of our network expansion.
We recognize that autonomous vehicles can complement our current services. The robotaxis operating on Yas, Saadiyat, Al Reem, and Al Maryah Islands, as well as to Zayed International Airport, extend coverage to areas and times where fixed-route buses are not economically viable. On the other hand, the self-driving delivery vehicles operating in Masdar City address logistics and freight.
Q: To what extent is sustainability influencing Abu Dhabi’s infrastructure and transport planning, including green mobility, low-carbon transport, and the development of parks, walkways, and public amenities?
Environmental stewardship is a key part of our facilities and transport planning. Sustainable designs lower operational costs, enhance resilience, and align with global goals. Abu Dhabi is playing its part.
Our Pearl Rating system puts sustainability at the heart of construction efforts. Local sourcing of materials and supplies are integral in our urban planning and infrastructure development. We also evaluate the green credentials of these materials.
We are actively promoting green mobility with the rollout of our hydrogen and electric-powered vehicles. Several bus routes, including the No. 65 service, which carries about 6,000 passengers per day has been converted. It is anticipated that the introduction of our clean-energy fleet will reduce emissions by more than 100,000 metric tons annually.
The Al Ain Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street redevelopment is a good example of our current approach to our sustainability ambitions enhancing urban areas.
As part of that project, we built a 1.5-km cycling track and planted over 780 trees with shaded structures and an event plaza in Al Ain’s main street, showcasing how road projects can also contribute to environmental objectives and enhance community areas. Our smart parks, equipped with IoT sensors, have decreased operational costs by 30 percent whilst optimizing resource use through real-time monitoring.
Water and electricity consumption has been reduced as a result of several sensors including one that controls irrigation by monitoring soil moisture. In Abu Dhabi, every major infrastructure project requires environmental impact assessment, climate resilience modeling, and demonstration of how it advances environmental objectives.
Q: How do initiatives like the Autonomous Council shape governance and regulatory frameworks, and how does DMT collaborate with private partners to drive innovation while ensuring safety and inclusivity?
The Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs, provides strategic direction specifically designed to coordinate emirate-wide autonomous technology deployment.
The Council brings together relevant departments, regulatory authorities, and technical experts to establish unified certification standards, operational requirements, and protection protocols.
This coordinated governance empowers Abu Dhabi to move decisively while maintaining oversight. The Council’s dedicated security and safety working group embeds law enforcement expertise directly into implementation, rather than retrospectively.
The SAVI cluster provides dedicated design and testing facilities where solutions can be refined in controlled environments. Instead of requiring companies to prove concepts in live operational settings, we offer testing grounds that replicate operational environments. This reduces risk and accelerates the pathway from concept to scaled deployment.
While we embrace automated transport, we still require all autonomous vehicles operating in Abu Dhabi to have human oversight. This policy means our advancements in innovation do not compromise public confidence or safety.
Our phased deployment, rigorous certification, mandatory human oversight and coordinated governance ensures that public welfare remains paramount as we transform concept into operational reality.
Q: How can global partnerships help sustain long-term alignment with economic growth?
As outlined in our discussion today, international partnerships serve multiple strategic functions in sustaining Abu Dhabi’s economic growth. They offer access to cutting-edge expertise and advanced solutions, creating pathways for future innovation.
Our collaboration with MIT to establish the DMT Future Hub has firmly positioned the emirate as a global leader in urban development, from pioneering research to innovative policy and practical implementation, significantly contributing to worldwide knowledge.
Through engagement with leading universities, companies, and multinational organizations, we can access intelligence about developments still in laboratory stages, allowing us to prepare frameworks and infrastructure requirements proactively.
Abu Dhabi serves as a hub to the region for transport and smart city development. An example of this can be seen in our smart city planning, with the emirate being home to the WeGO MENA regional office.
This year, we became the first nation in the Middle East to host the WeGO Executive Committee Meeting, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and joint initiatives.
Our twin city agreement with Shenzhen and Friendship City agreement with Seoul offer institutional frameworks for sustained engagement with two of Asia’s most dynamic urban economies.
Abu Dhabi reaffirmed its Sister Cooperation Agreement with Brisbane City Council after 15 years of partnership. The strengthened framework focused on sustainability, liveability, mobility, and smart city management through knowledge exchange and joint initiatives.
Both cities have achieved significant progress in infrastructure innovation, climate action, and digital governance, with this renewal reinforcing their shared commitment to sustainable urban development.
These relationships allow cities to share successful approaches, test new solutions together, and create opportunities for businesses wanting to operate in both locations.
Ultimately, strategic alliances sustain economic growth alignment not through dependency on external expertise but by accelerating the development of local capabilities, positioning Abu Dhabi within international networks, creating reference cases that attract follow-on investment, and confirming that our infrastructure, regulations, and workforce capabilities remain aligned with global best practice and emerging technologies as they continue to evolve.
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Dieser Artikel ist neu veröffentlicht von / This article is republished from: Economy Middle East, 15.12.2025
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