Inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit Unveils Programme Focused on Regulation, Deployment, and Cross-Sector Integration

The inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit, taking place on 10 November 2025, has announced its full programme — uniting global policymakers, innovators, and investors to shape the future of autonomous mobility, regulation, and real-world deployment. Organized by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), the event marks the opening of Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (10–15 November 2025) and positions the UAE capital as a global testbed for next-generation autonomy.

Defining the Future of Intelligent Mobility

Held under the theme “Where the Future of Smart and Autonomous Mobility Takes Shape”, the summit features 13 sessions and over 30 distinguished speakers addressing AI safety, human-AI trust, data governance, and integration across air, sea, land, and robotics. The event aims to align policy, investment, and infrastructure toward commercialisation pathways extending to 2030 and 2040.

Operational Details: From Regulation to Real-World Deployment

The summit opens with a Leadership Dialogue on building Abu Dhabi’s autonomous economy through innovation and integration. Sessions such as Regulating Autonomy: Safety First, Then Scale will explore cybersecurity, AI standards, and public trust frameworks. Further panels will highlight robotaxis, public transport, and last-mile delivery models moving from concept to scale, while Powering Autonomy will discuss electrified infrastructure supporting city-wide operations.

Sessions on Human-AI Synergy and AI-Driven Decision-Making will explore explainable AI, human oversight, and real-time data ecosystems that shape autonomous logistics and smart cities.

Strategic Significance: Collaboration and Industry Leadership

Speakers include Sherif Tawfik (G42 at Microsoft), Tony Xu Han (WeRide), Nikhil Goel and Dr Talib Alhinai (Archer Aviation), Matt Chasen (LIFT Aircraft), and Tobias Liebelt (BENTELER Mobility), alongside key UAE leaders such as H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, and H.E. Badr Salim Al Olama.

Beyond the Summit: A Week of Autonomous Innovation

Following the Summit, Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week continues with:

• DRIFTx Exhibition (10–12 November): Live demonstrations of smart mobility solutions across air, land, sea, and robotics.

• RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 (10–15 November): Hosted by Khalifa University, marking its first appearance in the MENA region.

• Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (15 November): Featuring a US$2.25 million prize pool, this racing showcase celebrates cutting-edge autonomous motorsport innovation.