Inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit Program Unveiled for 2025 Event

Unveiling of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit Program

The inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit is set to take place on November 10, 2025, highlighting significant developments in regulation, real-world implementations, and inter-sector scalability. This high-level event will engage global industry leaders in critical discussions surrounding the future of smart and autonomous mobility, laying the groundwork for advancements up to 2030 and beyond.

Overview of the Summit

Organized by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), the event is a cornerstone of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (ADAW), scheduled for November 10-15, 2025. The summit's theme, "Where the Future of Smart and Autonomous Mobility Takes Shape," signifies a gathering of thought leaders aiming to transition autonomy from pilot initiatives to tangible benefits across land, air, maritime, robotics, and industrial applications.

The program features 13 sessions with over 30 speakers, designed to accelerate collaboration among policymakers, operators, investors, and innovators, translating regulation into real-world applications. The summit will commence with a Leadership Dialogue, addressing how investments, integration, and innovation will shape Abu Dhabi's autonomous economy.

Key Agenda Highlights

One major focus of the summit will be the 'Autonomy Regulation' panel, advocating the principle of 'Safety First, Scalability Second.' It will discuss crucial topics like cybersecurity, data governance, and building public trust in autonomous technologies. The agenda also prioritizes deployment initiatives, aiming to transition concepts into reality through models such as robotaxi services, scalable public transport, and last-mile delivery solutions.

The discussions will extend to autonomous infrastructure, resilient enough to support urban operations. The synergy between humans and AI will be explored, focusing on XAI (Explainable AI), human oversight, and service designs that effectively communicate risks. Furthermore, decision-making powered by AI will delve into real-time applications involving drones, smart roads, and cloud-based logistics.

A dedicated session on cross-sector collaboration will showcase how leaders in mobility, energy, logistics, and technology can form partnerships to create viable use cases. The design of smart ports and cities will also feature prominently, detailing urban planning for autonomous applications.

Urban air mobility—addressing certification, airspace integration, and connections between ports and airport districts—will be another critical topic. The series of sessions will conclude with a presentation on real-world transformations and financial strategies for securing new asset classes that are compatible with next-gen platforms.

Notable Speakers

Among the prominent speakers confirmed for the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Summit are industry leaders such as Sherif Tawfik, Director of Alliances at G42, Tony Xu Han, CEO of WeRide, and Matt Chasen, CEO of LIFT Aircraft, among others. The presence of various government officials, including HE Faisal Al Bannai, highlights Abu Dhabi's commitment to becoming a global hub for autonomous innovation.

HE Faisal Al Bannai stated, "Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week embodies our dedication to shaping the era of intelligent autonomy, where machines think, adapt, and act alongside us. It is not merely about technology; it is about reimagining mobility, industry, and the human experience itself."

Conclusion

Kicking off with the summit, the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week will also feature an interactive exhibition, DRIFTx, showcasing advanced mobility solutions across various domains. Additionally, the RoboCup Asia-Pacific 2025 and the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) will take place until November 15, further enriching the week with innovative competitions and displays of cutting-edge technology.

For more information about ADAW 2025, visit autonomous.abudhabi and follow us on social media @autonomousad. Accredited media representatives may express their interest in interviews with confirmed speakers through media inquiries.