“Municipalities and Transport” issues a regulatory framework for testing small autonomous marine crafts in Abu Dhabi

Under the supervision of the Intelligent Autonomous Systems Council, the Department of Municipalities and Transport announced the issuance of a comprehensive regulatory framework that regulates the testing of small autonomous marine means in the waters of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, in coordination with the Integrated Transport Center (Abu Dhabi Transport), as the regulatory and supervisory body responsible for the transport sector in the emirate.
This step comes in accordance with the adoption of the regulatory framework in accordance with Administrative Resolution No. (17) of 2026, whereby the “Guide for Requirements and Controls for Testing Autonomous Marine Vessels in the Waters of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi” establishes the features of a future-proof regulatory environment, with the aim of accelerating the pace of innovation, while ensuring that testing activities are fully taken into account to ensure the safety of maritime navigation, human lives, property, and the marine ecosystem, reflecting the strategic commitment to developing advanced marine technologies that are in line with global best practices and international regulatory standards.
The guide includes a mandatory permit system that regulates all testing activities and ensures full compliance with the approved controls and procedures, in addition to a clear definition of the obligations of permit applicants and marine craft operators, with the establishment of organized procedures that ensure the safe and systematic implementation of testing operations without affecting existing marine operations, in addition to establishing requirements requiring the provision of appropriate insurance coverage and the application of cybersecurity requirements.
Together, this integrated system contributes to creating a clear and stimulating regulatory environment for technology developers, investors, and stakeholders in the maritime sector, thus enhancing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global center in the field of maritime innovation and advanced mobility solutions, under the umbrella of the center’s continuous supervision and control to ensure the integration and conformity of these tests with the best international standards and practices.
Acting Director General of the Integrated Transport Center (Abu Dhabi Transport), Dr. Abdullah Hamad Al Ghafli, said: “The issuance of this regulatory framework represents a qualitative leap towards enabling future technology and enhancing Abu Dhabi’s leadership in adopting smart and sustainable mobility solutions. We seek, through our legislative and oversight role in the Centre, to create an integrated, incubating experimental environment that stimulates innovation, guarantees the highest standards of safety and operational efficiency in our waterways, and supports our journey towards building an advanced maritime transport system that meets The emirate’s long-term economic and technological aspirations.
This framework is based directly on the department’s broader regulatory system, including Administrative Resolution No. (69) of 2025, which established a unified regulation governing maritime safety, operations, environmental protection, and the responsibilities of stakeholders in the various waterways in Abu Dhabi, in close coordination and joint operational cooperation between the Integrated Transport Center (Abu Dhabi Transport) and Abu Dhabi Maritime.
The integration of this guide and its technical controls into the comprehensive regulatory framework reflects the success of the joint strategic direction towards building a sustainable maritime sector that is commercially attractive to investment and keeps pace with the latest smart technologies that enhance the quality of life in the emirate.