UAE focuses on Self Driving cars

Self-driving cars are the buzzword in the tech landscape now. A technology which seemed a bit futuristic a while ago has now beaten several predictions. And leading the pack are some of the biggest names in the automotive world. Alphabet’s Waymo, GM’s Cruise, Nissan’s Zoox are at the forefront. A data released by California’s transport regulator show that Baidu, Telenav, Delhi, Bosh and Mercedes are not far behind. The bold new sector has thus seen several innovations in a short span.

 However, until now players in the Middle East were a bit reluctant to enter the fray. But “not anymore”, says UAE. UAE has voiced its intention to lead the Middle Eastern autonomous race. The country’s top official has revealed that it is working closely with manufacturers and other regulators to set up a regulation consistent with the global standards. “We understand that true potential of these technologies cannot be fully realised until the regulations are in place,” said Abdulla Abdulqader Al Maeeni, Director General of the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA).

 He said, this is also the key focus of an International Conference on Future Mobility which will be held this year on 7th and 8th of November at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort Hotel, Abu Dhabi. The two-day conference and exhibition held in cooperation with Department of Transport – Abu Dhabi (DoT), will focus on green mobility, smart connectivity and autonomous driving. “Gaining practical experience with these new systems will allow our government to keep pace with these technological advancements,” Al Maeeni stressed.