Abu Dhabi is using real-time data to regulate traffic entering one of its busiest highways, reducing congestion, delivering environmental benefits, improving travel reliability and unlocking estimated savings of up to $2.6m annually in delay-related costs.

German smart transport firm Umovity and Tatweer, a local provider of professional engineering services and smart mobility technologies, have deployed the first adaptive ramp metering system in the Middle East. It is installed on Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street, one of Abu Dhabi’s busiest corridors.

The project combines Econolite’s software for real-time local control with ST Engineering’s traffic management software for ramp metering coordination and monitoring, delivered in close collaboration with Tatweer, which led local engineering, system integration and deployment.

Tatweer owner PTV’s software is already widely used for real-time traffic modelling, simulation and network prediction.

At critical access points to the highway network, the ramp metering system regulates the flow of vehicles entering the roadway. By leveraging real-time data from multiple detection technologies – including video, radar and in-road sensors – the system continuously monitors traffic conditions such as speed, density and queue lengths. Based on these data, signal timings are automatically adjusted to optimise vehicle entry, preventing bottlenecks before they form and ensuring smoother, more reliable traffic flow.

For commuters, the benefits are shorter, more predictable journeys, fewer stop-and-go delays, and smoother traffic flow during peak hours. Beyond the time saved, steadier traffic also means lower fuel consumption and reduced vehicle emissions. By preventing congestion before it builds, the system supports everyday mobility and long-term environmental goals.

Umovity contributed its globally deployed ramp metering, including Econolite’s field-proven Cobalt controllers and EOS controller software for real-time local control. Singapore-based ST Engineering (www.stengg.com) provided traffic management capabilities through its TransCore and TransSuite platforms, enabling coordinated operation and monitoring of the system.

“This project demonstrates the real strength of Umovity, combining Econolite’s field-proven traffic control technologies with a broader ecosystem of advanced traffic management and analytics capabilities,” said Nicholas Ghia, CEO of Umovity (www.umovity.com). “This is exactly the kind of collaborative, future-ready approach needed to scale intelligent transport systems.”

Tatweer led local engineering design, systems integration, field deployment, commissioning and stakeholder coordination with Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (admobility.gov.ae), ensuring everything was aligned with the emirate’s requirements.

“This deployment marks a significant milestone in Abu Dhabi’s journey towards intelligent, data-driven mobility,” said Atef Garib, CEO of Tatweer (www.tatweermea.com).

Together, the partners delivered the complete system in six months.

The ramp metering deployment is designed to align with Abu Dhabi’s broader intelligent transport ecosystem, supporting seamless integration with the Intelligent Transport Central Platform (ITCP) and enabling coordinated traffic management across multiple systems and corridors. This ensures it can scale effectively as part of the emirate’s long-term, data-driven mobility strategy.