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UAE Prepares To Trial First Driverless Truck At Dubai South
The tests will be conducted at the Logistics District and will help manufacturer Evocargo optimize the vehicles for the MENA region.
Dubai South, an urban master developer focused on aviation and logistics, has agreed to host a testing program for driverless trucks, which will be undertaken by Dubai-based firm, Evocargo.
The rigorous tests will take place at the development’s Logistics District and help to create a fleet of vehicles specifically configured for the climate and conditions of the Middle East and North Africa.
An on-site control facility will be built to manage the autonomous trucks, using remote operators and banks of sensors to monitor progress. The initial trials are aimed at “setting new benchmarks and consolidating the leadership status of the country’s logistics sector” and will help Dubai and the region as a whole to scale its logistics and supply chains for a globally-connected future.
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The worldwide autonomous vehicle industry is forecast to pass $1.8 trillion in value by 2030, which represents a staggering growth rate of 39%. The UAE has already undertaken several initiatives to bring driverless vehicles to its roads as part of a broader push toward sustainability and modernization.
As for the Evocargo vehicles, the company’s main truck, the EVO.1, has a lifting capacity of 2,000 kg and can carry six Euro-pallets at 25 kmph. The light truck has a total range of 200 km and can charge from flat in 40 minutes using a special charging station — or up to 6 hours from a regular outlet.
Evocargo’s Dubai South tests will be the company’s first venture into autonomous vehicles as part of a global logistics network, and represent a significant milestone for Dubai as it continues to lead the region as a city of technological innovation.
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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
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The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.