UAE: How AI-powered traffic cameras are making roads safer in Abu Dhabi

Khaleej Times

3 days ago

While many see cybersecurity as a matter of protecting data locked away in servers and for law enforcement agencies in the UAE, it's increasingly becoming a matter of protecting people in their daily life.
Speaking at the FutureSec Summit 2025, hosted by Khaleej Times in Dubai, Dr Hamad Khalifa Al Nuaimi, Telecommunications Specialist at Abu Dhabi Police, explained how artificial intelligence is already embedded in the emirate's traffic systems, and how it's reducing accidents before they happen.
'Critical systems aren't just in back-end servers anymore, they're on the roads,' Dr Al Nuaimi said. 'In Abu Dhabi, if you're driving dangerously, like weaving between lanes or tailgating, AI-powered cameras will detect that in real time and flag it. These violations aren't just about issuing fines. They're about preventing collisions before they happen.'
The system, he said, goes beyond speed monitoring. It captures behavioral patterns, from sudden zig-zagging to unsafe braking distances,and automates the detection of high-risk driving. These smart interventions, backed by AI, are helping to shift the role of policing from reactive enforcement to proactive safety.
'The goal is to make the roads safer, not just to punish drivers,' he added. 'This is how we're using AI technology to protect lives.'
Dr Al Nuaimi emphasized a shift in how authorities define 'critical systems.' Traditionally thought of as IT networks or protected data centres, these systems now include public-facing platforms embedded into daily life.
'When people talk about cybersecurity, they often imagine someone hacking a server behind a firewall,' he said. 'But in Abu Dhabi, our critical systems are outside, on the highways, roundabouts, and city intersections. Cybersecurity means protecting the real-world systems that citizens interact with every day.'
This expanding definition of critical infrastructure reflects a broader national strategy that integrates public safety, smart city technology, and digital resilience under one umbrella.
Building for the future
Echoing this vision was Professor Dr. Hossam Mohamed Nabil, a cybercrime investigation expert at the Dubai Police Academy, who delivered a closing session at the summit on the importance of national resilience.
'Cybersecurity is no longer just a matter of reacting to threats,' he said. 'It's about building resilient systems that can adapt to change, whether it's a ransomware attack, a pandemic, or the arrival of quantum computing.'
Reflecting on the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, he noted how national systems were forced to rapidly digitise everything from education to law enforcement. That experience, he said, was an unintentional but essential stress test for national resilience.
'We had to switch overnight to platforms like Zoom to keep education going. That kind of forced digital transition showed us how unprepared we were, and how quickly we could adapt under pressure.'
Dr Nabil stressed that future threats, including AI-generated attacks and quantum computing, will require strategic planning, regulation, and strong public-private collaboration.
'Resilience doesn't happen overnight. It comes from building a security culture, training the workforce, and having the tools in place before the threat arrives,' he said.
As Dr Al Nuaimi concluded, 'Security is not just a system behind a screen. It's every camera, every sensor, every smart decision that keeps people safe, sometimes before they even know they were at risk.'