His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, a member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, witnessed the signing of a collaborative agreement at his palace in the city of Saqr bin Mohammed today. The agreement was executed between the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority, the Civil Aviation Department of Ras Al Khaimah, and the Chinese company “Aridej,” which specializes in advanced aerial mobility and is a subsidiary of Xpeng. This partnership aims to develop, test, and implement advanced aerial mobility solutions in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
During the signing ceremony, His Highness received Zhao Deli, the founder and chairman of Xpeng, along with his accompanying delegation. The meeting was attended by Ismail Hassan Al Blooshi, the Director-General of the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority and the Acting Director of the Civil Aviation Department, alongside other senior officials.
Advancing Future Mobility Solutions
His Highness emphasised that the agreement represents a significant step forward in the Emirate’s commitment to developing future mobility solutions. He highlighted the importance of leveraging global expertise and technologies to build a more efficient and sustainable transport system that can meet the demands of growth and rapid changes in the sector.
His Highness stated, “We believe that the true value of technology is reflected in its impact on people’s lives and its capacity to support development and enhance services. In Ras Al Khaimah, innovation is an essential part of our vision for the future, and we are working to harness it to develop more efficient systems that cater to the needs of our community and economy.”
Supporting Economic Growth and Quality of Life
He further expressed, “Our ambition is for new technologies to contribute to the growth of our economy, enhance Ras Al Khaimah’s competitiveness, and improve the quality of life, consolidating its status as a preferred destination for living, working, investing, and tourism.”
During the meeting, His Highness was briefed on a presentation that covered the company’s primary operations and expertise in smart electric vehicles, AI-supported mobility technologies, and advanced transport solutions. The presentation also highlighted opportunities for collaboration and joint ventures in areas of mutual interest.
Expanding Collaborative Efforts
The agreement was signed by Ismail Hassan Al Blooshi on behalf of the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority and the Civil Aviation Department, and Dr. Han Guishan, the principal representative for the Middle East from “Aridej.” This agreement follows previous collaborations with “Xpeng Aero HT,” which included the execution of the first test flight of an aerial vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah in 2025, and expands this partnership to develop a more integrated system, progressing from initial tests to advanced verification and operational trials.
Under the terms of the agreement, “Aridej” will take on the role of foundational partner for the Ras Al Khaimah test zone for advanced aerial mobility, establishing the first operational presence in the Emirate by allocating aircraft and a specialized team to support the development of technical and operational capabilities and enhance cooperation with regulatory authorities in aviation.
Creating a Controlled Testing Environment
The test zone aims to provide an organized environment for assessing advanced aerial mobility technologies, evaluating their readiness, verifying airspace requirements, operational procedures, and safety standards through structured tests and practical demonstrations. This approach enables a planned transition from verification and testing phases to operational trials, in coordination with the Civil Aviation Department of Ras Al Khaimah and relevant regulatory bodies.
Moreover, the agreement paves the way for exploring future applications of advanced aerial mobility technologies across transportation, tourism, logistics services, and emergency response, in accordance with applicable regulatory approvals and operational readiness levels.
A Commitment to Future Technologies
This partnership is part of Ras Al Khaimah’s ongoing efforts to adopt future technologies, enhance its environment for innovation and investment, promote international collaboration, and transfer knowledge in advanced sectors. These initiatives aim to solidify the Emirate’s position as a destination for the development and testing of future transport solutions.