Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) will host the second edition of DRIFTx from 10–12 November 2025. The event forms part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (ADAW), organized by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC). Consequently, DRIFTx will bring together innovators, investors, regulators, and policymakers to explore smart mobility across air, land, sea, and robotics. Moreover, the expanded format builds on last year’s success, which drew over 8,000 visitors from 65+ countries and produced 12 strategic agreements.
Real-world demonstrations and commercial acceleration
Over three days at Yas Marina Circuit, attendees will see autonomous air taxis, self-driving vehicles, maritime vessels, and robotic systems operating in real environments. Furthermore, DRIFTx connects prototypes with capital and regulatory pathways, so innovators can scale solutions faster. Investors will therefore gain exposure to commercially viable technologies backed by government support. In addition, the program emphasizes robotics for logistics, advanced manufacturing, and urban services, reflecting their growing strategic importance.
Gateway to global markets and cluster strategy impact
For global mobility firms, DRIFTx doubles as an entry point to Abu Dhabi’s strategic hub linking the GCC, Africa, and South Asia. Moreover, the event leverages the UAE’s Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements to provide access to some 2.5 billion consumers. As part of the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster, DRIFTx supports ADIO’s broader plan to attract industry leaders and create knowledge-based jobs. Ultimately, the SAVI cluster is projected to add $12 billion (AED 44 billion) to Abu Dhabi’s GDP and generate more than 35,000 jobs.
