Umovity and Tatweer Launch Middle East’s First Adaptive Ramp Metering System, Enabling Multi-Million-Dollar Savings

• Delivered in six months as a scalable, fully adaptive traffic management solution
• Estimated $1.7–$2.6 million in annual congestion-cost savings
• Deployed on Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street in Abu Dhabi

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Umovity, the joint brand uniting Econolite and PTV Group – together with Tatweer, a leading provider of professional engineering services and innovative smart mobility technologies – have successfully deployed the first adaptive ramp metering system in the Middle East. Installed on Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street, one of Abu Dhabi’s busiest corridors, the system uses real-time data to regulate traffic entering the highway – reducing congestion, delivering environmental benefits, improving travel reliability, and unlocking estimated savings of up to $2.6 million annually in delay-related costs.

The project combines Econolite’s software for real-time local control with ST Engineering’s advanced traffic management software for ramp metering coordination and monitoring, delivered in close collaboration with Tatweer, which led local engineering, system integration, and deployment. The solution is aligned with Abu Dhabi’s broader intelligent transport vision and designed for interoperability with the Emirate’s Intelligent Transport Central Platform (ITCP), leveraging a technology environment in which PTV Group’s software solutions are already widely used for real-time traffic modeling, simulation, and network prediction. This ensures long-term integration and provides a scalable foundation for future expansion across the network.

At critical access points to the highway network, the ramp metering system dynamically 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 this data, signal timings are automatically adjusted to optimize vehicle entry, preventing bottlenecks before they form and ensuring smoother, more reliable traffic flow along one of Abu Dhabi’s busiest corridors.

For commuters on Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street, the benefits are immediate: 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 – a direct contribution to Abu Dhabi’s sustainability agenda. By preventing congestion before it builds, the system supports both everyday mobility and long-term environmental goals.

The project’s success was underpinned by close collaboration between Umovity and Tatweer. Umovity contributed its globally deployed ramp metering solution, including Econolite’s field-proven Cobalt controllers and EOS controller software for real-time local control. ST Engineering, a software partner engaged by Tatweer and Umovity, provided advanced traffic management capabilities through its TransCore (TransSuite) platform, enabling coordinated operation and monitoring of the system.

Tatweer led local engineering design, systems integration, field deployment, commissioning, and stakeholder coordination with Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre, ensuring the solution was fully aligned with the emirate’s specific requirements. Together, the partners delivered the complete system in just six months-demonstrating how global technology and strong local execution can combine to deliver rapid, real-world impact.

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 the solution can scale effectively as part of the Emirate’s long-term, data-driven mobility strategy.

The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) is driving this transformation through ITCP, a unified platform that integrates AI, monitoring, prediction, and incident management to enable more proactive and efficient traffic operations across the network.

With this project, Umovity Group, Tatweer, and ST Engineering have set a new benchmark for intelligent traffic management in the region. The Abu Dhabi ramp metering system shows how adaptive, digital solutions can be effectively integrated into a broader smart city ecosystem.

Nicholas Ghia, CEO, Umovity Software, stated that, “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. By delivering a solution that integrates seamlessly into Abu Dhabi’s existing mobility platform, we are enabling measurable impact - reducing congestion, improving travel reliability, and creating long-term value for the city. This is exactly the kind of collaborative, future-ready approach needed to scale intelligent transport systems.”

“This deployment marks a significant milestone in Abu Dhabi’s journey toward intelligent, data-driven mobility. By combining world-class technology with deep regional execution expertise, we have delivered a solution that not only tackles today’s congestion challenges on one of our busiest corridors but also lays the foundation for the emirate’s long-term smart mobility ambitions. Our partnership with Umovity, and close alignment with local stakeholders, demonstrates what is possible when global innovation meets strong local delivery capability,” Dr. Atef Garib, Tatweer CEO, had commented.

As Abu Dhabi continues to invest in innovative mobility strategies, the project provides a scalable blueprint for future deployments, reinforcing the role of technology and collaboration in shaping the future of urban transportation.

About Umovity

Umovity, established through the combination of PTV Group and Econolite, is a globally leading platform for Intelligent Transportation Systems and mobility technology. With uniquely integrated capabilities across software, hardware, and field services, Umovity delivers end-to-end mobility solutions to cities and regions worldwide. Its portfolio includes software for traffic planning, simulation, and real-time traffic management, alongside advanced traffic control hardware such as controllers, cabinets, and sensors, as well as Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) software. By uniting these capabilities, Umovity empowers communities to build safer, smarter, and more sustainable mobility systems. For more information, visit www.umovity.com.

About Tatweer

Tatweer is a leading regional firm offering a unique blend of professional engineering services and innovative smart technologies across the transportation, traffic, and road engineering sectors. The company delivers turnkey solutions that bring innovation to every project, drawing on highly qualified, multidisciplinary teams of engineers and technology specialists. With a strong reputation for innovation among key clients across the region, Tatweer specializes in developing advanced, sustainable solutions that address today’s mobility challenges while anticipating the needs and ambitions of tomorrow’s smart cities. For more information, visit www.tatweermea.com.