The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) in Abu Dhabi has announced plans to introduce more than 500 specialized vehicles before the end of the year. The environmentally-conscious fleet will incorporate automated street sweepers and washers, heavy-equipment vehicles, water tankers and beach/shore-cleaning boats.
The fleet is expected to reduce carbon emissions by up to 40 %, roughly equivalent to 1,775 tonnes of CO₂ annually. All vehicles will include Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, with select units fitted with 360° high-resolution cameras and AI-powered edge scanners capable of detecting waste types, compliance issues and infrastructure anomalies—data which will be mapped via geolocation.
The system will be integrated with DMT’s “Public Cleanliness Platform”, allowing optimization of crew allocation, improved asset oversight and reduced manual inspection. A pilot phase will upgrade 10 vehicles from the existing fleet with the AI technology, to be deployed initially in Abu Dhabi and Al Dhafra, then expanded to Al Ain and the wider emirate.
The announcement follows Abu Dhabi’s recent jump to 5th place globally in the IMD Smart City Index, up from 10th in 2024.
No specific vendor contracts or investment cost details were disclosed in the announcement.
