Next-generation technologies drive GCC mobility landscape
In conversation with Karim Amer, senior vice-president, head of automotive, wholesale and trading MNCs at Mashreq
Governments across the region are embracing mobility tech, ride-hailing and other digital solutions with the intention of transforming the daily commute.
Urban mobility across the Gulf is undergoing a deliberate redesign. What was once framed as incremental transport modernisation is increasingly becoming a broader policy-driven transformation that links infrastructure investment, digital platforms and sustainability goals.
Governments are no longer treating mobility as a standalone sector challenge. Instead, it is being widely positioned as a central pillar of urban planning.
“Across the region, authorities are actively encouraging alternatives to private car dependency, recognising that issues such as congestion and emissions cannot be addressed through traditional road expansion alone,” says Karim Amer, senior vice-president, head of automotive, wholesale and trading MNCs at Mashreq
Therefore, digital mobility ecosystems are emerging as the mechanism through which cities intend to rebalance transport behaviour.
Ride-hailing platforms, electrified fleets and shared transport systems are being embedded into long-term development frameworks designed to make everyday commuting more efficient, flexible and environmentally aligned.
This shift reflects a broader understanding that mobility is no longer defined purely by vehicles or infrastructure. It is increasingly shaped by how seamlessly travellers can access, combine and transition between transport modes.
