Global ports operator DP World and electric freight mobility company Einride have announced a partnership that will result in the Middle East’s largest fleet of driverless electric cargo vehicles, the two companies have said.
The collaboration between DP World and the freight mobility start-up will assist with the electrification of inter-terminal container flows at Jebel Ali Port, which will improve efficiency and sustainability.
“Our partnership will driver greater operational efficiencies, further decarbonise terminal operations and pioneer greener practices for the logistics sector,” said Abdulla bin Damithan, chief executive and managing director of DP World GCC.
“We have already made significant progress in electrifying and automating our terminals at Jebel Ali Port, and by leveraging Einride's cutting-edge technology, we can take that to the next level.”
Einride’s partnership with DP World comes after a series a moves that solidified the electric and autonomous freight mobility company’s presence in the UAE.
The Sweden-based company signed an agreement with the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in 2023 that will result in a 550km “Falcon Rise” freight mobility grid, with the eventual aim of enabling the use of electric and autonomous vehicles.
The Falcon Rise grid will use Einride’s “full freight mobility offering” across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, covering 2,000 electric lorries, 200 self-driving lorries and eight charging stations with more than 500 ports, the company said last year.
Founded in 2016, Einride makes driverless electric freight lorries, charging ports and sustainable freight technology to improve efficiency of transporting goods.
One of its most touted products is the Autonomous Gen 2, a cabless, self-driving electric freight vehicle.
According to Einride, towards the end of 2024, the company's partnership with DP World will be scaled up to support 1,600 container movements daily, made possible through a fleet of 100 connected electric lorries.
Einride Saga, the company's “intelligent freight operating system”, which uses data and artificial intelligence to enhance electric and driverless road freight operations, will also be used to help monitor the fleet of heavy-duty electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
Robert Falck, chief executive and founder of Einride, reflected on the company's collaboration with DP World.
“By reshaping container transportation in Jebel Ali Port, we aim to set a new standard for sustainable transport practices, significantly curbing CO2 [carbon dioxide] emissions,” he said.
“This collaboration showcases the effectiveness of combining visionary ideals with decisive action, paving the way for a more resilient future.”
According to Einride, once fully operational, the partnership between both companies will save up to 14,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and 158 tonnes of nitrogen oxides annually.
Globally, the value of the global self-driving vehicle market is forecast to reach about $2.3 trillion by 2032, from about $121.78 billion in 2022, the latest data from Precedence Research shows.
Fully autonomous robotaxis are expected to become commercially available at a large scale by 2030, and fully driverless lorries are expected to reach viability between 2028 and 2031, McKinsey's latest survey released this year found.
An investment of more than $4 billion is needed for full-journey driverless lorries, it added.
Einride currently lists PepsiCo, Mars, Heineken, Maersk and GE Appliances as clients, to name a few.
The autonomous pilot portion of Einride's partnership with DP World is expected in 2025.
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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
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
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.
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
