The World Road Congress comes to the Middle East for the first time ever this year with Abu Dhabi hosting the 26th edition of the event five-day event in October under the theme ‘Connecting Cultures, Enabling Economies’.
According to a statement from the organisers, World Road Association (PIARC), more than 5,000 delegates from 120 countries and more than 40 ministries of various governments are expected to attend the event. This includes some of the world’s leading experts in road infrastructure, transport and technology.
The five-day World Road Congress 2019, being held from October 6-10 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, will offer a unique global platform for the UAE to demonstrate its commitment to innovating in the surface transport, tunnels, bridges and infrastructure space.
The statement added that the event will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and comes at a time when the UAE has been consistently recognised by the World Economic Forum as having the best roads in the world from 2015 to 2018.
Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, minister of Infrastructure Development and chairman of the Federal Transport Authority – Land & Maritime, said: “This year, the 26th International Road Conference will be an opportunity to present and address programmes and issues related to different modes of transport and advancements in the sector, such as smart innovations.
“It will be an opportunity to demonstrate the development and sustainability of the UAE infrastructure and to meet like-minded industry experts to share experiences and information on applying the latest global standards in planning.
“I look forward to bringing together industry leaders in Abu Dhabi to examine what the next four years and beyond holds for the future of road and transport infrastructure.”
The PIARC has organised the World Road Congress since 1908. It aims to share worldwide techniques, innovations, political strategies, trends and developments as well as best practice in the fields of road, infrastructure and transport.
Claude Van Rooten, president, PIARC, said: “Every country in the world has come to depend on roads to provide year-round access and mobility for their populations. As our populations evolve, today’s road network must meet new demands and expectations.
“The World Road Congress is the global industry’s signature event, bringing together road administrations, equipment and service providers, consultants and road-related organisations, as well as ministers from across the world to present their views on key themes such as artificial intelligence, land use planning and the future transport network.”
