The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) have signed a cooperation agreement to establish regulatory, design, and manufacturing capabilities for advanced air mobility technologies.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council to support the development of smart mobility in Abu Dhabi and facilitate the deployment of autonomous transportation systems across land, sea, and air.
Collaboration on design and certification
Under the agreement, the three entities will jointly develop State of Design and State of Manufacture documentation and establish technical specifications to support the certification and regulation of emerging aircraft technologies.
The collaboration will focus on advanced aircraft platforms, including electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and electric conventional take-off and landing (eCTOL) aircraft.
The partners will work to create regulatory and technical frameworks to facilitate the design, certification, and deployment of these technologies.
The agreement also includes cooperation on developing standards and processes that support innovation while ensuring compliance with international aviation requirements.
The Al Ain Region will serve as a center for design and regulatory activities related to advanced air mobility.
The project includes the development of supporting infrastructure, technical expertise, and international partnerships required for the testing, certification, and operation of advanced aircraft technologies.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority, said that, “Through this collaboration, we are taking meaningful steps towards developing the capabilities associated with a State of Design, reinforcing our readiness to guide and certify the next generation of advanced aircraft technologies.”
Badr Al-Olama Director General – ADIO
“Advanced air mobility is a defining frontier for sustainable innovation, and Abu Dhabi is uniquely positioned to lead in this field. By building capabilities for aircraft design and manufacture, along with certification and testing in Al Ain Region, we are creating a new global center of excellence to advance the UAE’s vision for a knowledge-based, future-ready economy.”
Dr. Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director-General of the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), remarked that, “This agreement marks a strategic step towards enabling Abu Dhabi to strengthen its position as a hub for the certification, design, and manufacturing of advanced air mobility technologies.”
Supporting advanced mobility development
The agreement complements Abu Dhabi’s broader Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries cluster, which brings together companies developing technologies for autonomous transport across land, sea, and air, as well as robotics.
Under the supervision of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, ADIO, GCAA, and Abu Dhabi Mobility will continue working on the regulatory, certification, and infrastructure frameworks required to test, certify, and deploy smart and autonomous mobility solutions across Abu Dhabi while supporting their wider adoption across the UAE.
