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The Ministry of Transport opened the second edition of the Autonomous e-Mobility Forum on Monday with practical demonstrations that included test rides in a RoboTaxi at the Qatar National Convention Centre. The event brings together more than 1,000 participants, 40 international and regional speakers, and 20 exhibitors for discussions on sustainable mobility solutions. Organisers positioned the gathering as a platform to accelerate the shift from innovation to real-world deployment across the Middle East.
The forum was rescheduled from April to September 7-9 because of the regional situation, according to a Ministry of Transport announcement in April. It is hosted by the ministry under the patronage of Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani and organised by Just us & Otto Marketing Services. The programme features two days of keynote addresses and panel sessions followed by an ecosystem tour of sustainable transport sites on the final day.
Topics under discussion range from the electrification of vehicle fleets and logistics networks to the role of autonomous systems in smart cities and the creation of supportive policy frameworks, the ministry reported. The event aligns directly with the Ministry of Transport Strategy 2025-2030, which seeks to build a secure, integrated and sustainable transportation system powered by innovation and clean energy. This focus supports the broader goals of Qatar National Vision 2030.
Qatar Rail has taken the role of platinum sponsor while Uber, Qatar Free Zones Authority, QTerminals and Mwani Qatar are gold sponsors, event organisers stated. Silver sponsors include Mowasalat (Karwa) and several electric vehicle distributors, with Qatar University and the University of Doha for Science and Technology serving as academic and research partners. The sponsorship structure reflects growing private-sector interest in autonomous and electric mobility technologies.
Assistant Undersecretary for Land Transport Affairs Eng. Abdullah Saif Al-Sulaiti briefed local media on the forum last week, The Peninsula reported. He emphasised the importance of cultivating local innovation and developing homegrown mobility ecosystems alongside global collaboration. Speakers include executives from FlyNow Aviation, L&T Technology Services and Mowasalat along with ministry officials responsible for land transport planning and road affairs.
Live demonstrations and immersive exhibitions allow participants to engage directly with emerging technologies, according to the official programme published by the ministry. The RoboTaxi test ride forms part of efforts to familiarise stakeholders with the practical operation of autonomous vehicles in urban settings. Such hands-on experiences are intended to inform policy development and public acceptance of next-generation transport systems.
The gathering builds on the inaugural forum held in 2024 and underscores Qatar’s commitment to addressing global sustainability challenges through targeted investment in smart infrastructure, a ministry assessment found. Discussions are expected to yield actionable insights on regulatory requirements and infrastructure needs for wider adoption of autonomous e-mobility. Organisers have closed registration for the ecosystem tour component while conference sessions remain open through Tuesday.
