Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster’s flagship gathering to spotlight future-focused technologies across air, land, sea and robotics during the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is set to host the second edition of DRIFTx, the emirate’s leading international event dedicated to next-generation smart and autonomous mobility, from 10 to 12 November 2025. Taking place as part of the first Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (ADAW), organised by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), DRIFTx will bring together global mobility innovators, technology developers, regulators and investors to explore advancements across air, land, sea and robotic mobility.
Following the success of the inaugural edition, which attracted over 8,000 participants from 65 countries and resulted in the signing of 12 major agreements, the 2025 event returns with an expanded programme. Over three days, Yas Marina Circuit will host live demonstrations of autonomous air taxis, driverless vehicles, maritime systems and robotic platforms operating in real-world scenarios.
The second edition will also introduce an enhanced focus on robotics, underscoring its increasing influence in logistics, manufacturing and urban services. By connecting robotics with autonomous mobility across multiple environments, DRIFTx reflects Abu Dhabi’s integrated strategy to advance technology adoption and accelerate broader economic transformation.
H.E. Badr Al Olama, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, said: “As the flagship event of Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster, DRIFTx demonstrates the strength of Abu Dhabi’s dynamic ecosystem, where regulation, capital and innovation merge seamlessly to accelerate progress. By bringing together the most innovative players in mobility with regulators, investors and the public, Abu Dhabi is shaping the future of transport across air, land and sea.”
More than an exhibition, DRIFTx is designed to be a platform for commercial acceleration, enabling prototypes and pilots to progress by enabling direct collaboration with investors, regulators and industry stakeholders.
Investors at DRIFTx will be presented with the opportunity to engage with commercially viable, scalable technologies, supported by a clear governmental commitment to long-term economic transformation. Visitors, meanwhile, will discover how autonomous systems are advancing safety, reducing risk, and improving efficiency, laying the foundation for long-term societal acceptance and trust.
For international mobility companies, the exhibition offers not only a showcase for their technologies, but a tangible entry point into Abu Dhabi, which provides seamless access to high-growth markets across the GCC, Africa, South Asia and beyond. Abu Dhabi’s position as a hub for international expansion is further reinforced by the UAE’s extensive global network of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs), which unlock preferential market access to over 2.5 billion consumers worldwide.
DRIFTx is the flagship event of the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster, Abu Dhabi’s multi-modal hub for the development of smart and autonomous mobility technologies across air, land, sea and robotics. As a key element of the SAVI cluster, the exhibition plays a pivotal role within ADIO’s broader cluster strategy, which aims to attract market-leading companies, develop advanced industries and generate high-value, knowledge-based jobs across priority sectors. The SAVI cluster is projected to contribute AED 44 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP and create more than 35,000 jobs. For more information visit: https://event.driftx.abudhabi/,
