ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi’s first DRIFTx event will take place on 25th-26th April 2024 at Yas Marina Circuit. The event will showcase smart, autonomous, and sustainable urban mobility solutions in air, land, and sea.
It will feature local and international speakers and exhibitors, including flying taxis, driverless cars, and autonomous boats. Over 80 global mobility experts will participate in DRIFTx Talks sessions, discussing the latest transportation trends and innovations.
The event will have dedicated stages for air, land, and sea mobility, covering topics like AI and human collaboration, public perception of urban air mobility, advanced marine navigation systems, and sustainable electric and autonomous vehicles.
The speaker lineup includes Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of Space42, Abdulla Al Marzouqi, Director-General of Integrated T
ransport Centre, Badr Al Olama, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Hasan Al Hosani, Managing Director of Bayanat, JoeBen Bevirt, CEO of Joby Aviation, Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer Aviation, Tian Yu, Founder and CEO of AutofFlight, Minsang Yu, Chief Strategy Officer of Autonomous A2Z, and Dr Paul Newman, CTO and President of OXA.
Nayef Shahin, Director of Innovation and Knowledge at Abu Dhabi Investment Office, said, ‘Abu Dhabi is a city of firsts, and the upcoming inaugural DRIFTx event is a testament to the emirate’s ongoing efforts in convening world leaders to tackle global opportunities and challenges. By fostering collaboration across academics, innovators, regulators, and startups, the event provides a unique platform that creates tangible partnerships and accelerates future mobility solutions. This also mirrors what we are doing at the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster in Abu Dhabi, propelling the UAE Capital’s status as a global hub for smart and autonomous vehicle a
nd mobility solutions.’
DRIFTx’s speaker lineup also includes George Zakhem, Director of Business Development and Partnerships of Emirates Driving Company, Shannon Miller, SVP of Jacobs, Billy Thalheimer, CEO of Regent Craft, Ali Dalloul, VP of Azure AI Platform of Microsoft, Francois Dossa, Executive Director of Strategy and Sustainability of Jaguar Land Rover, Chuck Martin, Futurist, New York Times Best Selling Author and Head of Net Future Institute.
The event will also feature insights from officials from the UAE organisations including Abdulla Alashram, Group CEO of 7X, Nicolas Petrovic, CEO of Etihad Rail Mobility, Nayef Shahin, Director of Innovation and Knowledge at Abu Dhabi Investment Office, and Dr Noura Al Dhaheri, CEO of Digital Cluster and CEO of Maqta Gateway at AD Ports Group.
DRIFTx will feature 75 global exhibitors, including Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation, Multi Level Group, Regent, Faraday Future, May Mobility, Space Falcon, and WeRide, which will be showcasing mobility innovations, liv
e demonstrations, VR simulations and more.
Adam Goldstein, CEO of Archer Aviation, said, ‘Since we announced our preliminary deal with ADIO at the SAVI event last fall, we have been working closely with our government and industry stakeholders in Abu Dhabi and across the emirates as we prepare to launch commercial air taxi service in the UAE as soon as next year. We’re proud to take part in DRIFTx as a symbol of Abu Dhabi’s world-leading commitment to fostering sustainable mobility innovation’
DRIFTx invites visitors to interact with mobility innovations, offering test-drives of autonomous vehicles like Fly Now eVOLT Model with VR glasses for simulated flying. Remote control demos by A2Z and Exail allow operating vehicles in distant locations. Attendees can experience live demos by industry leaders showcasing various cutting-edge vehicles. The event will host an electric vehicle exhibition and drone racing finale, with over 64 global teams competing. DRIFTx aims to bring together 2,000 attendees from the gl
obal mobility sector to shape the future of urban mobility through collaboration and networking opportunities.
Namir Hourani, Managing Director of GMOLx, said, ‘As we fast approach Abu Dhabi’s inaugural and one-of-a-kind DRIFTx event, we are proud to be associated with such a stellar speaker lineup and unique exhibition showcase and demos. We have been working closely with our partners, DMT, ADIO, SAVI, and Bayanat to curate a truly unique experience for industry leaders, innovators, startups, government bodies, regulators, and enthusiasts, thereby driving the adoption of smart and autonomous vehicles and the future of urban mobility forward in the region and beyond.’
In collaboration with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster, Bayanat, and key local and international strategic partners, including 7X, Abu Dhabi Chamber, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, Multi-level Group, Joby Aviation, Archer Aviat
ion, and Emirates Driving Company, DRIFTx emerges as the premier gathering for global thought leaders and innovators to explore, showcase, and demonstrate the latest in smart, autonomous, and sustainable mobility solutions from across the world.
Source: Emirates News Agency
