Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (Rakta) has signed a deal with RAK Properties during the launch of the Autonomous Mobility Framework in Ras Al Khaimah and the Autonomous Vehicle Sandbox initiative.

The signing took place in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. 

The agreement aims to support autonomous vehicle (AV) trials in real-world environments, including residential areas and mixed-use developments within Mina, Ras Al Khaimah’s leading waterfront destination being developed by RAK Properties, and to explore the potential of these environments for assessing advanced technologies and smart mobility solutions in accordance with approved technical and regulatory requirements.

Assess AVs

The partnership provides opportunities to assess the performance of autonomous vehicles under actual operating conditions and better understand the requirements associated with their use in residential areas and mixed-use developments. 

This will support the evaluation of their readiness for practical deployment, while taking in to account safety requirements and the specific operating conditions of each environment.

The agreement was signed on behalf of Rakta by Eng Esmaeel Hasan Al Blooshi, Director General, and on behalf of RAK Properties by Sameh Muhtadi, Chief Executive Officer of RAK Properties.

Al Blooshi said that testing autonomous mobility technologies in real-world environments is an important aspect of assessing their readiness for practical deployment. 

Expanding opportunities

He noted that collaboration with real estate developers creates opportunities to test advanced solutions across diverse urban environments and evaluate their performance under actual operating conditions, supporting the assessment of potential future applications in line with approved technical and regulatory requirements.

He added that Rakta continues to work with its partners to expand opportunities to test and practically evaluate advanced mobility solutions, helping identify potential future applications while ensuring that safety requirements and the specific characteristics of each operating environment are taken into consideration.

Muhtadi said: “Working together with our close partners at Rakta for the Autonomous Vehicle Sandbox initiative is a unique opportunity to observe, monitor, and stress-test the very latest transport solutions as they are deployed across Mina’s expanding urban environment. Our Mina masterplan is creating a modern cityscape that will expertly cater to the needs of residents and visitors alike. In today’s fast-moving world, this means integrating with the newest technologies and developing the best services and future applications that will support people’s daily lives by making mobility more convenient and accessible than ever. RAK Properties is proud to provide the infrastructure expertise required to explore this exciting technology to its fullest potential.”--TradeArabia News Service