The 4th Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport opened with a forward-looking session titled “Smart Horizons: AI & Infrastructure Connectivity for the Cities of Tomorrow,” where global experts emphasized the critical role of artificial intelligence and infrastructure readiness in shaping future smart cities powered by self-driving mobility.
The session featured insights from industry leaders including Scott Nash, Senior Director at Verizon Business; Andres Castrillon, Senior Director of Government Affairs at Qualcomm; Georges Aoude, CEO and Co-Founder of Derq; and Max Clark, Senior Vice President and EMEA CTO at Parsons. The discussion was moderated by Steve Bell, Chief Analyst at Omdia.
Panelists agreed that AI-driven capabilities, big data utilization, and connected infrastructure will be the backbone of next-generation urban mobility. They underscored that Dubai has unique advantages compared to other global cities, with a clear vision for autonomous mobility supported by strategic planning, cutting-edge technologies, and robust infrastructure development.
Speakers also highlighted Dubai’s proactive role in fostering global talent and innovation across both institutional and individual levels. This ecosystem, they noted, is essential for achieving Dubai’s ambitious target of making 25% of all mobility self-driving by 2030—an initiative that will reinforce the emirate’s reputation as one of the world’s smartest and happiest cities.
