Abu dhabi: The inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (ADAW) 2025 has firmly established the emirate as a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility. Organised by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), the week-long event attracted global policymakers, investors, innovators, and researchers to expedite the deployment and regulation of smart and autonomous technologies across multiple sectors.
According to Emirates News Agency, the week featured four flagship events: Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit, DRIFTx, RoboCup Asia-Pacific (RCAP) 2025, and Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL). Over six days, more than 15,000 attendees experienced live demonstrations of cutting-edge autonomous innovations spanning land, sea, air, robotics, and industrial applications.
Throughout the week, new autonomous technologies were unveiled, including delivery services, underscoring Abu Dhabi's leadership in creating future-ready, sustainable operating ecosystems. Over 40 strategic agreements were signed between UAE and international partners, enhancing cross-sector collaboration and supporting the emirate's strategy to deploy next-generation autonomous systems.
The events highlighted Abu Dhabi's leadership vision in transforming research into scalable solutions, supported by robust governance, real-world testing, and strategic public-private partnerships. The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit, which opened the week, hosted 400 participants, including national leaders and global experts, to discuss the future of regulation and deployment of smart systems.
Significant announcements during the week emphasized Abu Dhabi's regulatory leadership and commercial readiness. Notably, an agreement was reached between the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster and the Integrated Transport Centre with Silicon Valley's Tensor Auto for the commercial deployment of Tensor's Level 4 autonomous Robocars. Additionally, Abu Dhabi's first vertiport network was launched, along with agreements across autonomous logistics and advanced aerial mobility with partners like LODD Autonomous, Archer Aviation, and Emirates Post.
Faisal Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President for Strategic Research and Advanced Technology Affairs, stated: "Abu Dhabi is already driving the global conversation on autonomy, from research and regulation to live deployment. Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week unites regulators, innovators, and investors to strengthen a trusted ecosystem where technology serves people, advances industry, and reinforces the emirate's position as a leader in intelligent systems."
Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, added: "Abu Dhabi is recognised as a destination where the future is not just imagined but lived. Our progress reflects a firm commitment, real-world trials, and an unwavering focus on safety."
The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit also hosted sessions on AI-human collaboration, the transformation of urban mobility, and investment frameworks for innovation acceleration. DRIFTx at Yas Marina Circuit showcased real-world demonstrations of autonomous technologies, featuring robotaxis, humanoid robots, eVTOLs, and autonomous boats.
RoboCup Asia-Pacific (RCAP) 2025, hosted by Khalifa University, attracted over 2,000 attendees and 166 teams from 22 countries, competing in multiple disciplines such as humanoid soccer and disaster-response robotics. Professor Ebrahim Al Hajri, President of Khalifa University, highlighted the event's significance in advancing AI innovation and investment in future generations.
The week concluded with the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL), where six fully driverless race cars competed in a Grand Final at Yas Marina Circuit. This historic event demonstrated the potential of AI-driven systems to perform safely under extreme conditions, marking a significant achievement in autonomous motorsport.
ADAW 2025 concluded with a shared vision for the future of autonomy, showcasing how technological advancements and ambition can create a sustainable, safe, and future-ready world.