A record number of exhibitors are expected to showcase the latest transport, road and planning innovations at the 26th PIARC World Road Congress in Abu Dhabi this October.
Organized by the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (DoT) and the World Road Association (PIARC), around 5,000 road transport professionals, a Congress record number of national pavilions, over 200 exhibitors from international private and public groups and over 40 transport ministers from around the world are expected to participate in the summit.
The 26th World Road Congress will be held in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center from October 6 to 10.
Recently, His Excellency Dr Abdullah Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Transport Authority, wrote personally to Transport and Infrastructure Ministers of 195 countries around the world, inviting them to take part in the Ministers Sessions, a prominent feature of every World Road Congress.
His Excellency called for Transport Ministries around the world to come together at the 26th PIARC World Road Congress with public and private partners to share ideas and experiences and develop new partnerships to progress together.
HE highlighted the importance of World Road Congress for the transport sector in the country as it offers a unique opportunity to exchange best practises and showcase the latest developments related to road networks, transport systems and road traffic control. It also provides a platform to develop safety measures to address environmental and sustainability challenges as well as strengthening public-private sectors partnerships to support and develop the roads and transport infrastructure.
Choosing Abu Dhabi to host this global event could not be more apt for a road congress not only as the UAE has, for the fourth consecutive year, been ranked 1st in the Quality of Roads Index in the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Reports but also because few other places can rival the UAE’s achievements when it comes to the Congress’s theme: Connecting Cultures, Enabling Economies
The five-day event discussing the over-arching theme of ‘Connecting Cultures, Enabling Economies’ will have over 50 sessions and workshops.
The packed programme will address innovative transport service models, future transport policy agendas, use of new technologies to enhance safety of the road networks, transport infrastructure investments, surface transport sustainability and resiliency, road, bridge and tunnel operations and incorporating smart mobility solutions, among other topics.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the World Road Congress offers a unique opportunity to explore the challenges, solutions and innovations, such as the introduction of driverless cars and future technology which will enable energy generation via cars driving on the road.
The Congress comes to the United Arab Emirates at back of being recognized consistently by the World Economic Forum as having the best roads in the world from 2015 to 2018.
The World Road Association (PIARC) has organized the World Road Congress since 1909. It aims to share worldwide techniques, innovations, political strategies, trends and developments as well as best practice in the fields of road, infrastructure and transport.