Abu Dhabi, Malaysia to develop next-gen autonomous platforms

K2, an Abu Dhabi government-owned company specialising in advanced autonomous systems and AI-driven technologies, on Saturday announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Pahang Aerospace City (PAC) and the University Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) to cooperate on the development of next-generation autonomous platforms.

The LOI was signed prior to the “Hi-Tea” event hosted by the Sultan of Pahang, His Majesty Sultan Abdullah, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The ceremony highlighted the deepening partnership between K2 and Pahang, and was attended by Sean Teo, Managing Director of K2, alongside Dr Yatimah Alias, Vice-Chancellor of UMPSA, and Adjunct Professor Nurazmi Abas, CEO of PAC.

The LOI reflects a shared vision to advance public safety and passenger mobility solutions while building the foundation for the responsible deployment of AI-driven systems.

As part of this cooperation, K2 will collaborate with UMPSA to identify opportunities to develop autonomous systems and programmes that leverage Malaysian university talent and human capital development. PACDB, a national flagship initiative in the state of Pahang, will serve as the operations and business technology partner for Malaysia.

PACDB is also committed to endow University Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah an amount of RM50 million jointly with its strategic partners in the Pahang Aerospace City.

The gross development value for PAC is expected to be around RM20 billion in the span of 10 years. PAC is also poised to be the region’s first multimodal hub for aviation, aerospace, and space.

UMPSA, a leading Malaysian public university recognised for technology and engineering excellence, will spearhead academic collaboration and support national certification frameworks for future system deployment.

This collaboration underscores K2’s commitment to working with international partners to shape the future of autonomy and AI, while ensuring that projects are developed with responsibility, safety, and long-term sustainability at their core.

Teo said, “This LOI reflects our shared vision with Pahang’s leadership to responsibly advance the future of AI and autonomous systems. It demonstrates how cross-border collaboration, anchored in academic and industrial cooperation, can create lasting impact for nations and societies.”

Nurazmi Abas stated that this agreement represents a critical step toward positioning Pahang as a hub for innovation and advanced technology.

Dr. Alias, in turn, said, “This cooperation opens new pathways for our students and researchers to contribute directly to the future of AI and autonomous systems. Together with K2 and PAC, we are building a foundation that combines academic excellence with practical application for Malaysia’s long-term growth via the establishment of UMPSA’s first Venture Studio.”

The initiative also aligns with the UAE’s strategic emphasis on technology leadership, access to market, and international cooperation, reinforcing the country’s role as a global hub for advanced research, innovation, and commercialisation.

PAC and its partners will further showcase and officially launch this initiative at the Dubai Airshow 2025, taking place from November 17th-21st, 2025.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Investment and the Perak State Development Corporation in Malaysia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May 2025 to support co-operation in the field of food security.

The agreement also includes the development of the Bagan Datuk International Sea-Hub Multipurpose Terminal in Perak State, reinforcing both parties’ commitment to global supply chains and sustainable economic growth through strategic infrastructure development.

The MoU was signed by Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment, and Yab Dato’ Seri Haji Saarani Bin Mohamad, Chairman of Perak State Development Corporation.

The two parties will work together to explore opportunities for investment in food security, building on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed between the UAE and Malaysia in January 2025.

Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi said, “This Memorandum with the Perak State Development Corporation underscores our shared commitment to bolstering regional supply chain resilience and driving sustainable development. Through this partnership, we aim to create meaningful international collaborations that deliver tangible value to both parties, while also contributing to the stability of the global food system.” Yab Dato’ Seri Haji Saarani Bin Mohamad, Chairman of Perak State Development Corporation added, “We are pleased to formalise this partnership with the UAE Ministry of Investment, which will advance our agricultural sector and infrastructure development objectives, and our role in global food security.

WAM