A Masdar City autonomous vehicle on display at Smart & Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster, a strategic Abu Dhabi initiative for the future of transport and mobility. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A Masdar City autonomous vehicle on display at Smart & Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster, a strategic Abu Dhabi initiative for the future of transport and mobility. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A Masdar City autonomous vehicle on display at Smart & Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster, a strategic Abu Dhabi initiative for the future of transport and mobility. Chris Whiteoak / The National
A Masdar City autonomous vehicle on display at Smart & Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster, a strategic Abu Dhabi initiative for the future of transport and mobility. Chris Whiteoak / The Natio

Abu Dhabi attracts more companies to its high-tech transport cluster


Deena Kamel
  • English
  • Arabic

Abu Dhabi has attracted more companies to its newly established cluster for the development of high-tech vehicles, as part of its push into advanced manufacturing and sustainable mobility.

Commercial helicopter operator Abu Dhabi Aviation will establish a maintenance, repair and overhaul centre for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (Savi) cluster in Masdar City, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office said on Monday.

Chinese electric vehicle maker Hozon Auto will bring its brand Neta Auto to the cluster where it will open a research and development centre and an assembly plant, Adio said in a separate statement later on Monday.

The announcements come a day after Adio revealed that California-based electric aircraft maker Joby Aviation, Chinese self-driving vehicle start-up WeRide and the UAE's unmanned maritime systems company Marakeb Technologies will join the Savi cluster.

The Masdar City-based cluster, which was announced on October 13, will develop smart and autonomous vehicles for air, land and sea use.

It is expected to contribute between Dh90 billion ($24.5 billion) and Dh120 billion ($32.7 billion) to the UAE's economy and generate up to 50,000 jobs, officials said last week.

Abu Dhabi Aviation is the largest commercial helicopter operator in the Middle East, operating and owning 58 aircraft. Photo: Abu Dhabi Aviation
Abu Dhabi Aviation is the largest commercial helicopter operator in the Middle East, operating and owning 58 aircraft. Photo: Abu Dhabi Aviation

Abu Dhabi Aviation and Adio will collaborate with UAE airlines, global eVTOL companies and other international partners to promote smart and autonomous air mobility, according to the emirate's investment office.

Abu Dhabi Aviation will also team up with technology companies operating in Savi to commercialise intellectual property and technology created through joint research and development, Adio said.

The helicopter company will also focus on knowledge transfers and national capabilities through its pilot-training centre, further promoting eVTOL services, according to Adio.

The company will also work closely with local regulators to adopt a clear regulatory framework that will support the future of aviation mobility.

Abu Dhabi Aviation provides offshore oil support – particularly for Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas production companies – and other services globally.

The company also provides ultra-VIP passenger transport services, search and rescue operations for the UAE, crop spraying, aerial construction, seismic support and third-party maintenance support, as well as helping to fight fires in Europe.

Meanwhile, Chinese Neta Auto's R&D facility in Abu Dhabi will serve as its Middle East and North Africa hub, according to Adio. This will be its third R&D facility globally – following its Shanghai and Hong Kong centres, it said.

Neta Auto will trial its latest technologies at a testing zone in Yas Island, which has an established road mobility test bed used by a growing number of incorporated technology start-ups.

“We are excited to support the company in developing smart and autonomous vehicles on Yas Island, and becoming a beacon for others to follow in the EV and battery cell sectors," said Badr Al Olama, acting director general of Adio.

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
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Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

Key developments in maritime dispute

2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier. 

2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus

2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.

2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.

2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed

Based: Muscat

Launch year: 2018

Number of employees: 40

Sector: Online food delivery

Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception 

'Outclassed in Kuwait'
Taleb Alrefai, 
HBKU Press 

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Classification from Tour de France after Stage 17

1. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 73:27:26"

2. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Cannondale-Drapac) 27"

3. Romain Bardet (France / AG2R La Mondiale)

4. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana Pro Team) 53"

5. Mikel Landa (Spain / Team Sky) 1:24"

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The alternatives

• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.

• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.

• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.

2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.

• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases -  but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.

Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

Naga
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

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The bio

Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home

The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ

Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700

Engine 3.0L V6

Transmission Eight-speed automatic

Power 340hp @ 6,000pm

Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km

MATCH INFO

Watford 2 (Sarr 50', Deeney 54' pen)

Manchester United 0

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champioons League semi-final:

First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2

Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)

Tank warfare

Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks. 

“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.

“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Andor
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RESULTS

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Omania, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
Winner: Brehaan, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Craving, Connor Beasley, Simon Crisford
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Fertile De Croate, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel

Updated: October 16, 2023, 3:41 PM`