Abu Dhabi announces over Dh300m public transport technology project
In short
The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) announced at LIVEX 2026 a project worth more than Dh300 million to develop next-generation public transport systems, including an Automated Vehicle Management system and an integrated digital smart fare collection system. The contract was awarded to Conduent Business Solutions S.A.S., a French company in the global Conduent Group that the centre said has more than 50 years of experience and solutions deployed across more than 400 public transport networks in over 20 countries. Arabian Business, citing only feed summaries, described the upgrade as covering bank card, digital and QR payments and real-time bus management, and valued it at $82 million in one report and $81 million in another.
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The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, announced a project to develop the next generation of public transport systems in Abu Dhabi with an investment of more than AED300 million. The centre made the announcement during its participation in LIVEX 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The project includes the implementation of an advanced Automated Vehicle Management (AVM) system and the development of an integrated digital smart fare collection system. The centre said the work will increase the use of data and advanced digital technologies and contribute to a smarter, more efficient and sustainable mobility ecosystem, improving quality of life and mobility efficiency and supporting Abu Dhabi's competitiveness as a destination for living and investment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The contract for the project was awarded to Conduent Business Solutions S.A.S., a French company and part of the global Conduent Group that specialises in smart mobility solutions and electronic fare collection systems. According to the centre, the company brings more than 50 years of experience in the field, with solutions deployed across more than 400 public transport networks in over 20 countries. It will support the development of smart fare collection systems and the management of public transport operations, the centre said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The centre said the investment reflects its commitment to modernising the digital infrastructure of public transport in the emirate and to preparing the mobility ecosystem for future population growth and economic development, through the deployment of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence in service management and operations. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Arabian Business, in feed summaries, described the project as a public transport technology upgrade that includes bank card, digital and QR code payments and real-time bus management, and valued it at $82 million in one summary and $81 million in another. The official announcement and the fuller reports from Aletihad and Gulf News did not mention payment methods or a dollar value. [ 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The project covers fare collection and vehicle management across Abu Dhabi's public transport network, so it is likely to change how passengers in the emirate pay and how buses are managed. The contract goes to an international supplier, Conduent, rather than a local firm, as the emirate positions its mobility systems around data and artificial intelligence. The documents give no deployment timetable or service details, so the practical effect for riders is not yet set out.
Key facts
- The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, announced the project during its participation in LIVEX 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The investment in the next generation of public transport systems is more than AED300 million (Dh300 million). [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The project includes an advanced Automated Vehicle Management (AVM) system and the development of an integrated digital smart fare collection system. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The contract was awarded to Conduent Business Solutions S.A.S., a French company and part of the global Conduent Group, which specialises in smart mobility solutions and electronic fare collection. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The centre said the company brings more than 50 years of experience, with solutions deployed across more than 400 public transport networks in over 20 countries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Arabian Business reported the project as covering bank card, digital and QR code payments and real-time bus management. [ 4 ]
- Arabian Business valued the investment at $82 million in one report and $81 million in another. [ 4 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, announced a next-generation public transport project during LIVEX 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The investment is more than AED300 million. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The project includes an Automated Vehicle Management system and an integrated digital smart fare collection system. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The contract was awarded to Conduent Business Solutions S.A.S., a French company and part of the global Conduent Group, specialising in smart mobility solutions and electronic fare collection systems. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The centre said the project will support smart fare collection and the management of public transport operations, using digital technologies and artificial intelligence. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The value of the project in US dollars. Arabian Business gave $82 million in one report and $81 million in another; neither figure appears in the official announcement or the fuller articles, and no exchange rate is given.
- Whether the new system will accept bank cards and QR codes and include real-time bus management. This detail appears only in an Arabian Business feed summary and is not mentioned in the official announcement or the articles from Aletihad and Gulf News.
- When the systems will be deployed and how the project will be rolled out. None of the documents state a timeline, start date or implementation phases.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The Abu Dhabi Media Office publishes the announcement of the project and the contract award to Conduent. [ 1 ]
- Aletihad publishes its report on the Dh300 million-plus investment. [ 2 ]
- Gulf News publishes its report on the project. [ 3 ]
- Arabian Business publishes a summary reporting an $82 million upgrade with bank card and QR code payments and real-time bus management. [ 4 ]
- Arabian Business publishes a second summary putting the investment at $81 million. [ 5 ]