Abu Dhabi’s space technology company Space42 is developing the digital infrastructure needed to enable autonomous vehicles to operate safely across the Emirates.
The firm has signed a partnership agreement with e& UAE, formerly Etisalat, to test and roll out Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology, which allows vehicles to communicate with one another, road systems and pedestrians.
The collaboration combines Space42’s cloud-based mobility platform, which powers autonomous vehicles, with e&’s high-speed 5.5G and edge-computing networks, paving the way for future 6G-enabled transport systems.
Both companies will run pilot projects, work with regulators and test commercial models to build the systems needed for connected and driverless transport across the UAE.
“Pilot deployments will begin in Abu Dhabi and other designated smart-mobility zones across the UAE,” Hasan Al Hosani, chief executive of smart solutions at Space42, told The National. “We are still finalising our development, testing and deployment road map focused on autonomous shuttles, robotaxis and logistics fleets.
“These pilots will run on the Sovereign Mobility Cloud and be supported by Space42’s test vehicles, simulation platforms and mobility hubs. This phased rollout will demonstrate how advanced V2X technology and connected infrastructure can deliver safer, more efficient mobility at scale.”
Connecting driverless cars to 5.5G networks means vehicles can share and receive information almost instantly, helping them respond faster to traffic lights, pedestrians and road conditions. When 6G arrives, the connection will be even quicker and more reliable, allowing autonomous vehicles to operate more safely and smoothly across the city.
Space42 has already carried out large-scale autonomous-driving trials through TXAI, its robotaxi service, which has logged more than 600,000km and 20,000 passenger trips since 2021. The service has operated on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island as part of early testing phases.
Connected infrastructure to make roads safer
V2X systems allow vehicles to exchange data with surrounding infrastructure and other road users. The technology enables vehicles to detect what’s happening beyond their cameras or sensors.
“This holistic approach extends perception beyond line of sight, strengthens situational awareness and advances traffic analytical capabilities to help prevent collisions, improve traffic flow and support faster emergency responses,” said Mr Al Hosani.
Dr Sarath Raj, project director of the Satellite Ground Station at Amity University, said it was important for countries to have their own digital infrastructure for self-driving transport to avoid cyber threats.
“For example, when a connected vehicle in Abu Dhabi communicates through a local 5G edge node instead of a distant cloud server, critical safety decisions like collision avoidance or route optimisation happen instantly and securely,” he told The National.
In 2015, security researchers revealed that they were able to remotely access and control certain functions of a Tesla Model S by exploiting weaknesses in its on-board software and network connection. The car was not fully autonomous, but the incident still showed how connected vehicles could be exposed to cyber risks through their communication and control systems.
Developing regulations
Mr Al Hosani said the company is collaborating with the Integrated Transport Centre, Department of Municipalities and Transport and Abu Dhabi Police on regulatory development. These include creating ways to test vehicle safety, protect data and build public confidence in the technology.
Space42 uses a Digital Twin of Abu Dhabi, a virtual 3D model of the city that mirrors its roads, buildings and infrastructure in real time. The system collects information from satellites, sensors and traffic data to simulate how vehicles move through the city.
It allows engineers to test how autonomous fleets would react to different conditions, such as roadworks or heavy traffic, before any changes are made in the real world. The model supports Space42’s Sovereign Mobility Cloud by feeding back live data from roads and intersections.
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
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
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More on Quran memorisation:
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How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
• Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.
• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 2 (Willems 25', Shelvey 88')
Manchester City 2 (Sterling 22', De Bruyne 82')
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
RACE CARD
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB); Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA); Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA); Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA); Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T); 1,400m
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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