Participants at the upcoming International Conference on Future Mobility in Dubai, UAE, which will focus on the latest in intelligent connectivity among vehicles, will get an opportunity to try out a self-driving vehicle themselves.

Hosted by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA), the UAE’s federal standardisation governing body, the third edition of the event runs on November 7 and 8 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Innovation will be the key theme of this year’s edition of the conference and exhibition.

The public will have a chance to meet and interact with international experts, leading manufacturers and developers of intelligent autonomous vehicles, an activity that enhances the transmission of news of the latest technology-driven developments to the widest possible community segment.

Abdulla Abdul Qader Al Maeeni, director general of ESMA, said that the Authority has launched a project to draft technical regulations including requirements for self-driving vehicles and their safety requirements in an effort to improve safety and safety standards, which reflects directly on the quality of life In the country in line with the government's directions within the national agenda and enhances the country’s competitiveness globally.

“Since the launch of the draft regulations, ESMA has decided to present its initial draft at the International Conference on Future Mobility, seeking the scientific and technical opinions of international experts in a way that guarantees a draft that adds significantly to the industry and takes into account the best international experiences and models, which reflects positively on the domestic market, especially in terms of innovation,” Al Maeeni said.

He also noted the importance of safety standards for this type of vehicle, especially as it is highly technology-based. ESMA has formed a team of strategic partners including the Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport, the TRA, Dubai Police, RTA Dubai, transport department as well as other partners from federal and local bodies involved in drafting and discussing the draft.

Organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East and hosted by the ESMA, the 3rd ICFM is held under the patronage of Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, UAE Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ESMA.

The two-day conference and exhibition will discuss and analyse the future of transportation in the region and how smart, sustainable and intelligent vehicles will play a key role in both public and private transport in the smart cities of the future.

An expert panel of more than 35 speakers will be complemented by a stellar line-up of eco-friendly and autonomous vehicles on show from major manufactures such as Tesla, Audi, Porsche, Volkswagen, Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Volvo, BMW, Cadillac, Kia, Renault and Mercedes-Benz.  

More than 350 international and regional delegates are expected to attend, representing manufacturers, government authorities, telecommunications, utilities, distributors, industry analysts, and environment ministries.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) the 3rd ICFM’s Strategic Partner, said: “Recognising the importance of sustainable urban development, ESMA has taken a proactive role in shaping the future of our cities.  The 3rd International Future Mobility Conference is aligning the realms of transportation and user mobility under a common framework of innovation and sustainability.”

“It became a platform through which technologies can be observed in practice, and where government authorities can share their views about challenges and opportunities in urban transportation. By bringing together committed authorities, regulators, mobility experts, innovators and academia, we are making another confident step towards a smart and sustainable urban future,” added Sulayem.

Ahmed Pauwels, the CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “The UAE has been at the forefront developing alternate modes of mobility with sustainable technologies, prioritising the transformation of current mass transport modes into more efficient and intelligent systems.”

“Ten per cent of newly-purchased cars by government organisations will be electric or hybrid from 2016 to 2020, supporting the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy to cut carbon emissions by 16 per cent by 2021.

“A future step is to bring consumers on-board, and to bring together key stakeholders that can make future mobility and intelligent transport systems a reality. The ICFM has made great strides toward that end and continues to provide delegates and government representatives an unmatched opportunity to meet and interact with leading international experts in the field and gain valuable learnings about the latest technological developments that are driving the industry,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service