The China-MENA ITS Cooperation Conference, held on September 18, 2024, at the Grand Hyatt Dubai, is a significant platform dedicated to the development and cooperation of intelligent transportation systems between China and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. This conference, themed “Sharing and Matchmaking,” brought together over 4,000 global representatives in intelligent transportation, including government officials, industry leaders, and experts from China, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and other countries. It aims to deepen dialogue and foster collaboration in areas such as urban intelligent transportation construction, smart logistics, and new energy vehicles, sharing China’s over 20 years of experience and technological advancements to promote rapid progress in MENA’s transportation sector.

Hosted by ITS China, the only nationwide non-profit organization specializing in intelligent transportation in China, the event focused on facilitating exchanges of technology, business models, and standards that have made China’s intelligent transportation industry world-leading. The conference also served as a matchmaking hub, providing project opportunities for Chinese enterprises to enter the MENA market, and for MENA cities to accelerate their intelligent transportation infrastructure development efficiently, leveraging China’s supply chain and innovation. Prominent Chinese companies specializing in intelligent transportation and experts shared successful cases and technological insights relevant to traffic safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability in the region.

The China-MENA ITS Cooperation Conference represents a strategic initiative to build a long-term partnership for sustainable development in transportation between China and MENA countries within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This cooperation is expected to stimulate scientific, technological, and industrial innovation while improving urban mobility and transporting services. The event underscores the growing importance of intelligent transportation systems in the MENA region’s urbanization and economic development, highlighting China’s role as a key technology partner for this emerging market.