The first fully automated smart vehicle testing centre in the GCC has been launched in Ras Al Khaimah.

The testing centre is the result of a partnership between Al Ghurair Motors and the General Resources Authority (GRA) in Ras Al Khaimah. The state-of-the-art facility marks a leap forward, offering a seamless and efficient vehicle testing experience in the Northern Emirates.

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“The Al Ghurair Vehicle Testing Centre represents a bold step forward in vehicle testing innovation, reflecting our commitment to raising industry standards in the UAE and beyond. We are proud to partner with the General Resources Authority in Ras Al Khaimah to introduce an innovative facility that not only ensures the safety and compliance of vehicles but also embodies the future of sustainable and smart vehicle testing,” said Oscar Rivoli, CEO of Al Ghurair Motors, highlighting the significance of the launch.

What does the centre have to offer

The centre, located in Al Qussaidat in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), is a fully automated establishment introducing a revolutionary ‘Test & Go’ concept, empowering drivers to test their own vehicles in record time.

The facility reduces self-testing time to six minutes, unlike other establishments, which typically take 12. It also allows customers to independently test their own vehicles using smart machines that conduct undercarriage and tyre inspections without human intervention. This efficiency, combined with cutting-edge technology, ensures faster service while maintaining high levels of precision and accuracy.

Vehicle testing centre: Attributes of the establishment

The Al Ghurair Vehicle Testing Centre spans 1,400 sqm and can manage between 500 to 600 vehicle tests daily, across four dedicated testing lanes. The advanced systems at the centre are designed to improve operational efficiencies while delivering a best-in-class customer experience, offering automated machines at the entrance, integrated tablets for process management, and VIP services for the convenience of those visiting the facility to test their vehicles.

“This initiative underscores our mission to drive innovation and sustainability in Ras Al Khaimah’s infrastructure. We are delighted to collaborate with Al Ghurair Motors in establishing a model centre that aligns with our vision of a smarter, greener future,” said Jamal Ahmed Al Tair, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Resources Authority in Ras Al Khaimah, praising the partnership.

Sanad, the global aerospace engineering and leasing solutions leader wholly owned by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company, has entered into a five-year partnership with Indonesia’s Lion Air to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for V2500 engines powering its Airbus A320 fleet.

The deal reinforces UAE-Indonesia economic cooperation, aligning with the UAE-Indonesia comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA), which targets $10bn in annual trade by 2026.

The V2500 engine, produced by International Aero Engine, has powered commercial aircraft since 1989, with more than 2,600 in operation across 170 airlines worldwide, accumulating over 275 million flight hours.

As of 2023, more than 5,280 V2500 engines remain in active service.

Sanad will leverage its Abu Dhabi-based facilities to service Lion Air’s V2500 fleet. Having overhauled more than 250 V2500 engines in the past five years, Sanad has been the sole V2500 full overhaul provider in the Middle East since 2012.

This partnership strengthens its position as a key independent MRO provider serving leading global airlines.

Lion Air, Southeast Asia’s largest privately owned airline, operates a fleet of over 310 aircraft.

The agreement extends to include Batik Air and Super Air Jet, subsidiaries of Lion Air, which collectively operate more than 65 V2500-powered aircraft.

Sanad-Lion Air: Strategic industry collaboration

Mansoor Janahi, MD and group CEO at Sanad, stated: “This agreement with Lion Air, Indonesia’s largest airline by fleet size, reinforces our market presence and further establishes Abu Dhabi as a hub for advanced aviation solutions. It also strengthens our ties with Southeast Asia, the fastest-growing aviation market globally, and highlights the UAE’s commitment to expanding economic and industrial collaboration with Indonesia.”

Dennis Kirana, vice CEO of Batam Aero Technics, added: “Sanad’s expertise in maintaining our V2500 fleet makes them the ideal partner. This collaboration ensures the continued efficiency, safety, and reliability of our operations, while also reinforcing the deepening aviation ties between Indonesia and the UAE.”

With over 38 years of experience in aircraft engine MRO, Sanad has serviced more than 600 V2500 engines since 2012, supporting more than 30 airlines and 10 strategic partners across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

The partnership strengthens Sanad’s role as a leading independent MRO provider while contributing to Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as a global aviation hub and aligning with the UAE’s vision for international industrial expansion.

Dubai-based carrier Emirates will spend around $5bn on refitting 220 of its aircraft in order to sustain its network, President Tim Clark said on Wednesday, as the industry struggles with delivery delays for newer jets.

“We have no choice,” Clark told reporters. “This one is the only way we could sustain the network, grow the network.”

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Other airlines are also upgrading their airplanes, including Air India, which is working on refitting its existing fleet in an effort to maintain routes and upgrade the quality of the customer experience.

Clark said Emirates always looks to be at the lead of product development but has had to compromise and take matters into its own hands given delays from plane manufacturers.

“The engineering groups are working at a pace to get these aircraft turned around as quickly as possible. We have most of the parts now that we need to do it,” Clark told reporters.

Clark, who has been an outspoken critic of Boeing since the door blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight last year, said he had yet to meet Boeing’s new CEO Kelly Ortberg and that he wasn’t certain of changes in the delivery schedule.

He added that the airline is not optimistic about Boeing deliveries in October of 2025 and that it’s not sure when it’ll meet production ramp-up requirements.

The Arab Energy Fund, formerly known as APICORP, has partnered with global energy and commodities firm Hartree Partners to establish TAEF Hartree Cleantech LP, a $120m limited partnership focused on decarbonisation technologies across the US and Europe.

The UK-incorporated platform will invest in venture capital (VC) stage companies developing physical and digital decarbonisation technologies.

The initiative aligns with The Arab Energy Fund’s strategy to position itself as the leading impact investor in the energy sector, with a focus on energy security and sustainability.

Strategic investment in cleantech

Hartree Partners has been advancing cleantech investments since 2020 through its subsidiary, Vertree Partners, which specialises in carbon markets, industrial decarbonization solutions, and the energy transition value chain.

Hartree’s cleantech portfolio includes investments in 10 companies across industrial decarbonisation, emissions verification, geospatial data analytics, and climate change adaptation technologies.

“The partnership reflects our strategy to support the energy ecosystem with debt and equity solutions and advances our member countries’ energy agenda by fostering local energy value chains in the MENA region and beyond,” said Khalid Ali Al-Ruwaigh, CEO of The Arab Energy Fund.

Hartree Partners’ founding MD, Stephen Hendel, added: “We are proud to launch this platform alongside The Arab Energy Fund. Our combined expertise will allow us to identify and support transformational cleantech innovations on a global scale.”

New platform to build on Hartree’s previous collabs

The new platform builds on previous collaborations between Hartree and major investors such as BlackRock, Microsoft, and Union Square Ventures.

Its existing portfolio includes 10 companies focused on accelerating decarbonisation solutions, reinforcing The Arab Energy Fund’s position as a global leader in sustainable energy financing.

The Arab Energy Fund and Hartree Partners plan to leverage the platform to scale investment opportunities in the cleantech sector, aiming to drive transformative changes across the global energy landscape.

The RTA is implementing new traffic improvements to enhance the flow of traffic on some roads in Dubai.

The upgrades include road expansions in the Business Bay area and a new entrance to the Muhaisnah area, improving infrastructure for smoother, faster, and more efficient travel.

Traffic routes will be adjusted to improve flow just before the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Al Mustaqbal Street.

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The road leading from the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Al Mustaqbal Street toward Al Meydan Road will be widened and transformed from a one-lane road to two lanes, allowing for better and faster traffic movement.

An additional right lane will also be added at the intersection of Al Khaleej Street and Al Mustaqbal Street, for traffic coming from Sheikh Zayed Road toward Al Meydan Road.

A new entrance will be introduced to the labor accommodation area in Muhaisnah through an intersection with a signal on Algeria Street. This will facilitate entry for traffic coming from Tunis Street.

These road improvements will reduce travel time from 10 to 6 minutes on Algeria Street, from Tunis Street to Amman Street.