eMobility

Conference Programmes

New technologies are reshaping approaches to future, cleaner modes of transport, from personal to public. These present opportunities for how people, products and waste are moved more efficiently, and introduces new thinking for radically different future urban design. 

The eMobility Conference will gather experts to showcase and discuss the infrastructure requirements for road-based transport, how to release bottlenecks and the safety and ethical considerations that must be considered, as countries, cities and communities strike a balance between innovation and efficient, affordable transport systems.


Find out more about our expert speakers or view all the session details below.

Tuesday 14th January | Stage 3, Hall 7



MC: Steven 'Shafik' Nasser, CTO/CIO, Saber and Chairman of the IRF MENA Committee, International Road Federation 
 


14:00 - 14:40 | Panel: The future of road-based e-vehicles

Manufacturers are throwing their investment dollars behind electric vehicles and perhaps to a lesser extent hydrogen vehicles (FCEV). For BEVs, batteries are becoming lighter, charging times are faster, and range anxiety is fading. For FCEVs, infrastructure and scale remain a barrier. New road-based e-vehicles are also data machines, collecting insights on driver habits. How can cities strategically integrate e-vehicles into their infrastructure to create 20-minute cities, where everything is within easy reach? And what incentives and policies will accelerate their adoption, making them as ubiquitous as ICE vehicles?


Led by: Maisa Eid, Business Journalist, CNBC Arabia 
 


Amit Bhatt, Managing Director, India, International Council on Clean Transportation
 


Faisal Sultan, Vice President and Managing Director, Middle East, Lucid Motors 
 


Hany Tawfik, Head of Emirates Global Motor Electric, AlFahim Group
 


Heiko Seitz, Global & Middle East eMobility Leader, PwC
 


Jochen Rudat, Founder, Electric Ventures 
 


14:40 - 15:20 | Panel: Rethinking infrastructure design for autonomous vehicles

As we head towards a future of self-driving cars, our roads and cities need a tech-savvy, autonomous vehicle makeover. This session provides a glimpse into the infrastructure changes required for smooth autonomous driving, including traffic signals and signs, reimagined roads, parking and more. It will also discuss the technology architecture requirements of infrastructure as it talks to vehicles, data, sensor readings and cloud storage and future route planning. Strap in as we discuss how cities will retrofit existing roads to accommodate autonomous vehicles, and what safety measures must be embedded into road design to ensure communication between cars, pedestrians, and traffic infrastructure.


Led by: Antonio Semeraro, Principle, AD Little
 


Zhengxiong (Maso) Yang, Mobility Solution Architecture Lead, Bayanat
 


Dr. Fethi Filali, Director of Technology & Research (CTO), Qatar Mobility Innovations Center
 


Frans Hiemstra, Regional General Manager, MEA, Uber
 


15:20 - 15:35 | Case study: Decarbonising road transport in the UAE

This presentation will provide insights into the strategy and work underway by ADNOC Distribution to prepare for increase electric vehicles in the UAE, outlining its plans to support infrastructure requirements as part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.


Klaas Mantel, Chief Operations Officer, ADNOC Distribution 
 


15:35 - 15:50 | Presentation: Alternatives to car ownership: The Future of urban mobility 

In our rapidly evolving urban landscapes, the concept of car ownership is undergoing a transformation. It’s about seamlessly integrating various transport modes to create a holistic mobility experience, including owned-, shared- and micro-mobility, and clean public transport. What incentives would be required, particularly in countries where the culture leans heavily towards car ownership, to shift the spotlight away from private cars? And in hot, arid climates such as the Middle East, how can cities balance walkability with extreme temperatures? 


Nadeem Shakir, Regional Director - Transport & Mobility Planning, Zutari
 


15:50 - 16:10 | Fireside talk: Electric mobility in the Global South 

In many parts of the Global South, cars are a luxury that dew can afford. The main transport is motorbike, particularly taxis, with two-wheeled electric vehicles representing a huge opportunity. But they need a reliable electricity supply and an entrepreneurial spirit to promote its widespread use, such as battery swap schemes.


Led by: Ahmed Al Amra, Country Representative, UAE, Global Green Growth Institute 
 


Amit Bhatt, Managing Director, India, International Council on Clean Transportation 
 


Mustafa Momin, Founder & CEO, Palki Motors, Bangladesh
 


16:10 - 16:30 | Fireside talk: Harnessing real-time AI for seamless urban traffic management 

In the busy streets of modern cities, traffic congestion is an unwelcome, often dirty, sight. But what if we could predict its arrival and reroute our journeys accordingly? Is predictive analysis a game-changer for urban mobility? The challenge is to decode the massive amounts of data, using real-time camera feeds, sensors, and mobile apps, mashed with analysed historical patterns, weather conditions and unexpected events, so that by using AI we can spot potential bottlenecks. What is required for cities to use such AI algorithms (policy incentives, public-private partnerships, both?) and in what creative ways can we use predictive insights to seamlessly guide people on their respective journeys?


Led by: Nadia Maksoud, Research Assistant, Emirates Center for Mobility Research 
 

Steven 'Shafik' Nasser, CTO/CIO, Saber and Chairman of the IRF MENA Committee,
International Road Federation
 


Fabian Wong, BTFV VC l Maerifa l Artworks - Partner, QEV Technologies