MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)

Abu Dhabi is fast emerging as a testing ground for the next generation of autonomous technologies across land, sea, and air.

During the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week, the DRIFTx showcase brings together a lineup of cutting-edge mobility systems spanning defence, sustainability, logistics, and everyday transportation.

Visitors can see up close Abu Dhabi's self-driving patrol vehicles, unmanned sea vessels, and AI-powered air taxis designed for a new era of transport. 

On Land

One highlight on display is the MAGNUS Police Patrol, a next-generation 4x4 developed for the Abu Dhabi Police to support patrol, surveillance, and detainee transport.


The vehicle combines a hybrid electric powertrain with electric 4WD and torque vectoring, delivering instant acceleration, high torque, and strong off-road capability. It also features adaptive suspension, a fording depth of up to 800mm, and run-flat tyres for enhanced performance in extreme terrain.

Inside, a digital cockpit and hybrid cloud architecture support real-time monitoring, over-the-air updates, and AI-driven situational awareness. 
For covert operations, MAGNUS can operate silently in electric mode and includes an integrated drone box for aerial surveillance.

At the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), researchers are pushing autonomy further off-road.

The SteerAI Buggy exhibited at DRIFTx is equipped with cameras, LIDAR sensors, GPS, and onboard computing.

The vehicle can navigate complex, unmapped terrain fully autonomously, thanks to SteerAI's locally developed AI system.

In an interview with Aletihad, Rickard Martensson, Head of Growth at SteerAI, explained that its modular software can be adapted to different vehicles for a range of autonomous missions, including patrols, logistics, medical evacuations, and multi-asset operations involving drones.

At Sea

Autonomous innovation in Abu Dhabi is also making waves offshore. SAFEEN Subsea, a joint venture between AD Ports Group and NMDC Group, is showcasing an unmanned surface vessel that has completed 12,000 kilometres of survey-mapping for ADNOC.

The vessel, controlled remotely by a five-person team onshore, performs complex mapping and inspection tasks that would normally require a 15-member crew at sea.

"Compared to traditional vessels, it burns up to 95% less fuel and can stay operational for 20 days without refueling," Hassan Al Hashmi, manager of unmanned systems at SAFEEN Subsea, told Aletihad. "It's safer, greener, and far more efficient."

To advance subsea exploration in Abu Dhabi, researchers from the Autonomous Robotics Research Centre at TII are developing small, hand-launched underwater vehicles designed to map the seabed using sonar.

The system, currently being tested in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, aims to assist in underwater archaeology and environmental monitoring, Abdulla Al Mansoori, Associate Researcher at TII, told Aletihad. 

In the Sky

The UAE's autonomous mobility ambitions also include airborne systems. Nabat AI, a venture under the Advanced Technology Research Council, is using autonomous drones to restore coastal ecosystems by planting mangroves. Since launching in April, the team has seeded 500 hectares using drones equipped with custom-built seeding mechanisms.

The drones themselves are standard DJI models, but the seeding mechanism has been designed in-house for specific environmental applications.

While the current focus is mangroves, Nabat plans to adapt the technology for other species, including arid-land plants and seagrass, Stevie Van De Peer, Flight Operations Manager at Nabat, told Aletihad.

Meanwhile, Multi Level Group (MLG) is showcasing its autonomous passenger electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

 

In an interview with Aletihad, Nourhan Moussa, Director of Digital Transformation and Strategic Partnerships at MLG, said the company is currently focused on working with local regulators on certification and manufacturing to prepare for commercial deployment.

With the support of Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), MLG conducted an eVTOL air taxi test flight in Abu Dhabi in June 2025, in collaboration with EHang.

Moussa pointed out that Abu Dhabi's strong regulatory alignment and openness to innovation is what enables developers to test, rectify, and deploy emerging technologies efficiently.