Skip to main content

Dubai pilots Smart City solutions

Partnership with Derq, Du and Diez demos 5G connected vehicle tech in UAE Freezones
By Adam Hill December 7, 2022 Read time: 2 mins
Dubai has set itself up as testbed for future tech (© ITS International | Adam Hill)

Du, part of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company, is to demonstrate cutting-edge connected vehicle (CV) and comms tech in Dubai, UAE.

It is partnering with Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (Diez) and AI analytics and CV specialist Derq to power Diez's Freezones - commercial and residential hubs designed to attract businesses.

Du will pilot and demonstrate Smart City solutions powered by 5G communication and edge computing technologies from a 5G MEC server or platform from the Khazna Data Center.

As part of the agreement, Diez will promote and facilitate the implementation of the pilot in one of the Freezones, Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO).
 
“DSO provides a window of opportunities for the ICT industry," says Saleem AlBlooshi, chief technology officer at Du.

"As the UAE continues exceeding all expectations outlined in its national innovation strategy, we expect this next move to positively contribute to grounding Dubai as a hub of excellence for disruptive capabilities.” 

Derq CEO Dr. Georges Aoude says: “Diez has been a strong partner and supporter of Derq since 2017 by piloting Derq’s leading AI and V2X solutions to improve road safety in DSO."
 
Muammar Al Katheeri, chief engineering & Smart City officer at Diez, said: “This agreement directly aligns with our keenness to cooperate with all partners in various sectors to adopt smart and innovative solutions, which will improve the integrated technology system, enhance the wheel of evolution, and accelerate development processes."
 
Aoude added that the increased effort toward making transportation smarter and safer across the region "by leveraging 5G MEC and our cutting-edge technologies".
 
Together, Du and Diez will carry out technical support throughout the pilot set-up and ongoing operations.

Du will also develop a series of workshops to report observations, and analyse results and lessons learned throughout the pilot stage and implementation.   

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Dubai AV bus tests underway in $2.3m competition
    August 15, 2023
    World Challenge for Self-Driving Transportation focuses on buses this year
  • Magic pedestrian safety pilot project for Peachtree Corners
    February 10, 2025
    ConnVas solution uses cameras mounted on RRFB poles to monitor movement
  • How AI and digital infrastructure power safer, smarter cities
    July 23, 2025

    Modern cities need transport infrastructure that can meet today’s mobility demands while preparing for the innovations of tomorrow. Derq, an MIT spinoff, will use ITS in Atlanta to showcase how it delivers AI-powered intelligent transport systems that help cities and agencies prevent crashes, tackle road safety challenges, and improve traffic flow.

  • Derq predicts violations and saves lives
    June 7, 2018
    Derq has teamed up with FLIR and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDoT) to pilot new V2X applications at a busy intersection in Detroit, using artificial intelligence (AI) to predict and prevent vehicle-and pedestrian related-accidents. Located at Jefferson Avenue and Randolph Street near downtown, the pilot uses technology that can predict red light violations and vulnerable pedestrians and bicyclists that are approaching the intersection. Derq AI algorithms analyse video feeds from two FLIR came