Flying taxis, smart roads and driverless vehicles: Abu Dhabi unveils transport future

Abu Dhabi: The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) has signed several agreements with public and private sector partners to accelerate Abu Dhabi’s smart transportation ambitions.

The announcements were made during the Make it in the Emirates forum.

Flying taxis and autonomous transport

One of the key initiatives involves the design and manufacture of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, commonly known as flying taxis. These aircraft are expected to support future urban air mobility services.

In partnership with ADNOC, Abu Dhabi will also begin testing autonomous transport solutions, including driverless vehicles and vessels operating across land, sea and air.

Abu Dhabi to develop ‘AD Maps’

Authorities have also announced plans for ‘AD Maps’, a national geospatial navigation platform designed to provide real-time traffic and route information.

The platform aims to help residents and visitors access accurate navigation services and up-to-date traffic conditions across Abu Dhabi.

Smart signals for emergency response

In collaboration with Civil Defence, a smart traffic management system will be introduced to prioritise emergency vehicles.

The technology will automatically switch traffic signals to green for ambulances and fire engines responding to emergencies, helping reduce response times during accidents and critical situations. Abu Dhabi will also launch pilot projects to build environmentally friendly bus shelters using advanced 3D-printing technology.

The initiative is intended to support sustainable infrastructure development while improving public transport facilities across the city.