Abu dhabi: The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, has announced its supervision of a pilot project for the operation of autonomous trucks in Abu Dhabi. This initiative is undertaken in partnership with the global company Autotech, which specializes in developing autonomous vehicle systems, as well as AD Ports Group. The project is being implemented within Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi - KEZAD.
According to Emirates News Agency, the project is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa for the operation of autonomous trucks aimed at logistics and freight transport. The endeavor reflects the expansion of autonomous system applications across various modes of transport. The ITC explained that the project focuses on evaluating the operation of autonomous trucks within a defined industrial and logistics environment. Pilot trips were conducted along dedicated routes within KEZAD, adhering to approved regulatory frameworks and operational standards.
During 2025, the developer, under the ITC's supervision, worked on adapting artificial intelligence-based autonomous driving systems to local road requirements and logistics transport needs. This ensured safe and seamless operations in line with the highest safety and operational efficiency standards, while assessing the technology's readiness for deployment in a real-world environment.
This project forms part of the ITC's efforts to support the smart and autonomous mobility ecosystem in the emirate and enhance the readiness of regulatory frameworks to adopt innovative solutions that serve the supply chain and logistics sector. It contributes to improving freight transport efficiency and enhancing operational performance across economic and industrial zones, paving the way for the transition to the commercial deployment of autonomous logistics services.
Dr. Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, ITC Acting Director-General, stated that these initiatives contribute to enhancing the efficiency of the transport ecosystem, supporting the competitiveness of economic sectors, and reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a leading regional hub in adopting smart mobility solutions and autonomous systems. This aligns with the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031.