UTAC explores opportunities in the UAE with the Tawazun Council

UTAC has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement to explore potential areas of cooperation in vehicle testing, validation and certification in the United Arab Emirates. The Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement (TCDE) is a government entity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) responsible for strengthening the country's defense and security ecosystem. 

The Letter of Intent marks the beginning of discussions between the two parts and provides a framework to assess whether future collaboration could be beneficial. 

Through this exploratory phase, UTAC and Tawazun will exchange information on their respective capabilities, strategic priorities and areas of expertise. The discussions will focus on evaluating market needs for advanced vehicle testing, validation, approval and certification services in the UAE and the wider region, while also considering potential opportunities in research, development and mobility-related services. 

As part of these discussions, the two parties may assess the feasibility of establishing a specialised vehicle testing centre in the UAE. Any such initiative would be subject to further technical, commercial and strategic evaluation, and no commitment has been made at this stage. 

For UTAC, this Letter of Intent reflects our continued interest in understanding emerging international markets and exploring opportunities where our expertise could support the development of local capabilities. The discussions will also consider opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration with relevant stakeholders, should future cooperation prove appropriate. 

 Commenting on the signing, Dr. Khalid Mohammed Al Kaabi, CEO of Tawazun Quality and Conformity, said: “The signing of the Letter of Intent reflects the Council’s commitment to developing national capabilities and supporting the establishment of an advanced and globally competitive defence and security ecosystem. Our discussions with UTAC will enable us to evaluate opportunities related to knowledge transfer, the development of specialised capabilities, and the enhancement of vehicle testing, validation and certification services in the UAE.”

Al Kaabi added: “The development of advanced testing infrastructure would support the requirements of national entities and industrial partners, while contributing to strengthening the UAE’s position as a destination for specialised technology, research and industrial development.

Connor McCormack, UTAC Group CEO, said: “We are delighted to begin this strategic collaboration with Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement. This Letter of Intent reflects a shared ambition to advance vehicle testing, validation and certification capabilities in the UAE and the broader region. UTAC has extensive technical expertise and an impressive track record for international expansion, skills that it will leverage to support innovation, safety & industrial.