The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and ARIDGE (formerly known as XPENG AEROHT) have signed a strategic partnership to accelerate the certification, testing and commercialisation of advanced air mobility technologies in Abu Dhabi.
The agreement sees ARIDGE, of Guangzhou, China, gaining access to regulatory support, dedicated testing corridors and the emirate’s market for its road-air integrated mobility solutions.
Under the agreement, ADIO will work with ARIDGE to navigate Abu Dhabi’s regulatory landscape and facilitate test flights of next-generation aerial vehicles. The collaboration will also focus on identifying practical use cases across multiple sectors, including tourism and personal aviation experiences, urban and suburban passenger transport, emergency medical services and rapid response operations and last-mile logistics and connectivity solutions.
The partnership supports Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster, which is a strategic initiative designed to position the emirate as a global innovation hub for smart and autonomous mobility technologies. The SAVI cluster is projected to contribute AED 44 billion to the emirate’s GDP and create up to 40,000 high-value jobs by 2045.
The partnership will four key phases. First, both parties will collaborate on regulatory acceleration in coordination with the relevant UAE aviation authorities to develop certification frameworks and safety protocols tailored to flying vehicles. Second, the partnership will focus on use case development by co-creating application scenarios that demonstrate real-world value and integration with existing transport infrastructure. Third, joint market deployment efforts will build commercial pathways from prototype to operational service, including infrastructure planning and public acceptance initiatives. Finally, ecosystem growth initiatives will be implemented to strengthen investment links and attract complementary technology providers to Abu Dhabi’s emerging aerial mobility sector.
A joint Steering Committee comprising representatives from both organisations will oversee implementation and ensure alignment with national aviation and urban planning objectives.
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