DiDi Autonomous Driving announced a strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) on November 12, marking the company’s first major expansion step into the Middle East. As part of the agreement, DiDi has joined the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster in Abu Dhabi.
The collaboration focuses on advancing autonomous driving technologies, supporting AI talent development, and contributing to broader ecosystem growth. Both parties plan to extend cooperation across the Middle East over time.
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The SAVI cluster—operated by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and ADIO—acts as a regional centre for innovation in smart mobility across the Middle East and North Africa. It aims to promote the development and commercial rollout of autonomous technologies spanning land, sea, and air transport. According to ADIO, the initiative is projected to add AED 44 billion to Abu Dhabi’s GDP and create approximately 40,000 jobs by 2045.
H.E. Badr Al-Olama, Director General of ADIO, described the partnership as an important step in building Abu Dhabi’s next phase of mobility infrastructure. He said DiDi’s participation would help accelerate autonomous driving applications in the region. “We look forward to working together to establish new benchmarks for intelligent, safe, and sustainable mobility,” he noted.
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Wang Yue, Vice President of DiDi Autonomous Driving, said the Middle East is a significant region within the company’s global strategy. He noted that Abu Dhabi’s smart city ambitions align with DiDi’s approach to responsible technology innovation. “With ADIO’s support and collaboration with local partners, we aim to advance autonomous driving innovation and deployment across the region,” he said.
DiDi Autonomous Driving specializes in Level 4 autonomous technology supported by its proprietary hardware–software stack and its “Huijugang” operations platform. The company reports maintaining over 1,900 consecutive days of safe operations. Its next-generation autonomous vehicle, co-developed with GAC AION and designed for global deployment, is expected to be delivered by the end of the year.