- The strategic partnership formalizes cooperation across various sectors including investment, technology, smart cities and urban mobility.
- The signing ceremony was held during the opening of the Abu Dhabi-Shenzhen Innovation Forum, with the participation of a delegation from the Department of Municipalities and Transport with more than 15 companies and organizations in the People’s Republic of China.
- The Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi signed four other agreements with leading Chinese entities on the sidelines of the forum, including the Shenzhen Urban Transport Planning Center and Huawei.
Abu Dhabi, UAE, has entered into a historic partnership with Shenzhen, China, by signing a sister city agreement that aims to enhance cooperation and develop bilateral relations between the two countries.
The MoU for the agreement was signed by His Excellency Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, and His Excellency Chen Weizhong, Mayor of Shenzhen, during a special signing ceremony held on the sidelines of the opening of the “Abu Dhabi-Shenzhen Innovation Forum” held in Shenzhen from January 25 to 26, 2024.
His Excellency Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport – Abu Dhabi , highlighted the importance of the twinning agreement with Shenzhen, one of the most advanced cities in the world, especially as we approach the “Year of the Dragon” to begin a new era in the history of bilateral relations between the two countries. He said: “Abu Dhabi enjoys a global leadership position in the field of sustainable and smart urban development, which inspires us to remain committed to embracing innovation and technology to transform urban life and improve the lives, well-being and experiences of all members of the UAE community in the capital and throughout the emirate. Leveraging strategic partnerships is a clear approach on our path to achieving our ambitious vision, and as we approach the Chinese New Year, it is the perfect time to sign the twinning agreement with Shenzhen, one of the most advanced cities in the world. The great success achieved by the “Abu Dhabi-Shenzhen Innovation Forum” also represents a new era in the history of distinguished UAE-China relations, as all agreements signed during the forum aim to attract more citizens, visitors and investors to our global city.”
The twinning agreement obliges both parties to exchange expertise and knowledge, and joint cooperation in pioneering smart city projects across multiple fields, including infrastructure, urban planning, green mobility, public transportation, advanced technology, autonomous vehicles, in addition to sustainability and urban development.
Commenting on the agreement , His Excellency Chen Weizhong, Mayor of Shenzhen, said: “Shenzhen is pleased to sign the sister city agreement with Abu Dhabi, and we look forward to working together with the Department of Municipalities and Transport to exchange ideas and cooperate to implement the smart city strategy. This partnership aims to strengthen the long-standing relations between China and the UAE and pave the way for the approach of innovation and advanced technology that will characterize the world’s most important cities in the future. I am pleased to congratulate the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi on the success of the “Abu Dhabi-Shenzhen Innovation Forum” and thank Abu Dhabi for choosing Shenzhen as its partner in this distinguished project to transform the lifestyle of the city.”
As part of the cooperation between the two cities, the Abu Dhabi-Shenzhen Innovation Forum hosted a high-level delegation from the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi, the Advanced Technology Research Council, and senior officials from the People’s Republic of China, in addition to senior executives from more than 15 Asian institutions and companies. The forum witnessed the signing of a number of strategic agreements by the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi with important Chinese entities and companies, including the Shenzhen Center for Urban Transport Planning, Huawei, Temple Water Hong Kong, and Kowloon Motor Bus.
On the sidelines of the forum, the delegation and representatives of the Department of Municipalities and Transport conducted a series of field visits to various sites in Shenzhen, including the city’s transportation coordination center, the smart operations center, and Huawei’s research center.
More information about the agreements signed by the Shenzhen Municipalities and Transport Department during the forum:
Department of Municipalities and Transport and Shenzhen Centre for Urban Transport Planning,
Under this agreement, the Department will establish a joint international laboratory to provide training programmes in the smart city and mobility sector, with a focus on developing smart mobility systems that are environmentally friendly, safer and more efficient in Abu Dhabi. The joint work will also include establishing the “Smart Mobility Command and Control Centre” in Abu Dhabi, which explores the technologies needed to enhance decision-making in the field of urban transport and governance to further enhance the transport sector in the emirate.
The Smart Mobility Command and Control Centre features advanced sensors, cameras and high-speed data analysis that are used to monitor city-wide traffic, assist in decision-making and event management, as well as a comprehensive digital service system for residents, businesses and government departments. The project will also include technology specifically designed to efficiently manage Abu Dhabi’s sea, air and land transport network, including the railway network.
The Department is also working with the Shenzhen Urban Transport Planning Center, in accordance with the agreement, to design the operating model of the “Intelligent Mobility Command and Control Center”, develop a proof of concept for its use case, and manage the implementation and transformation into a new smart public transport system that constitutes a unique model for the transportation system in Abu Dhabi. This agreement is a solid foundation for joint cooperation between the Department of Municipalities and Transport and the Shenzhen Smart City Group, the parent company of the Shenzhen Urban Transport Planning Center, to develop a global smart city platform in Abu Dhabi.
Department of Municipalities and Transport and Huawei,
The MoU with Huawei outlines areas for exchanging information and opinions and ways to cooperate in the areas of enhanced data centers, enhancing IT infrastructure to explore innovative transportation solutions. In addition, Huawei supports Abu Dhabi’s ongoing efforts to develop a world-leading intelligent transportation system that includes a range of services, including vehicle charging infrastructure, autonomous vehicles, advanced traffic optimization solutions, and a 3D virtual road network.
Municipality and Transport Department and Temple Water Hong Kong,
The Department of Municipalities and Transport and the Integrated Transport Centre, within the framework of the agreement signed with Temple Water Hong Kong, are exploring sustainable public transport solutions across Abu Dhabi, in line with the UAE’s strategy to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050, through a set of key initiatives including the Green Bus Project in Abu Dhabi, and the Hydrogen Complex, which produces green hydrogen to operate hydrogen buses and cars across Abu Dhabi by 2025.
Department of Municipalities and Transport and Cologne Motor Bus Company,
A letter of intent has been signed with Cologne Motor Bus to enhance the public transport sector in Abu Dhabi. This partnership drives the transformation strategy of public transport in Abu Dhabi to include diversifying public transport modes, decarbonizing the system, digitally managing its operations, and improving contracting methods with the private sector to encourage them to participate in the development of public transport in Abu Dhabi. This cooperation aims to provide a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience for public transport users in Abu Dhabi.
The success of this forum reflects the depth of relations between the United Arab Emirates and the People’s Republic of China in various sectors, including the development of smart cities and related technologies. It also represents part of the ongoing efforts to consolidate joint work between the two countries. His Excellency Al Shurafa’s first visit to Shenzhen was in 2023 in his capacity as Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, with the aim of reviewing the infrastructure system and technology used in the smart city. He also visited Beijing at the time to sign a letter of intent with His Excellency Yin Yong, Mayor of Beijing, to exchange best practices regarding municipalities and sustainable transportation solutions.
