Citix MENA, an international technology company focused on digitalising urban spaces through Smart City infrastructure, has rolled out its new smartboard solutions ‘Tom’ in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island.
The launch aims to position Yas Island as the starting point for a new phase of the UAE’s digital transformation. The pilot aligns with the UAE’s national Digital Strategy, which aims to position the country as a global leader in smart and sustainable cities. It also reflects Abu Dhabi’s broader focus on advancing smart mobility and digital infrastructure through public-private partnerships.
The installation brings together digital advertising, real-time public information, and navigation support within a single urban interface, designed to enhance how residents and visitors interact with the city environment.
“These smartboards are designed to be practical and intuitive, supporting how people move through and experience the city,” said Stepan Kasatkin, CEO of Citix MENA. “They add a new digital layer to the urban environment while contributing to the emirate’s vision for connected and intelligent cities.”
Each smartboard features a library of interactive widgets and a screen divided into three sections – information, navigation, and advertising. The information and navigation sections deliver real-time updates to residents and visitors, including traffic conditions, nearby events, landmarks, public services, emergency alerts, and other city updates.
Installed at key entry points to Yas Island, the two ‘Tom’ smartboards are designed to help visitors navigate the area, locate destinations, and access relevant local information. The units are also equipped with data collection systems that enable analysis of pedestrian movement and traffic patterns, supporting longer-term urban planning and infrastructure development.
The Yas Island deployment represents the first stage of Citix MENA’s wider expansion plans in Abu Dhabi, with future installations expected across highways, tourist destinations, and other high-traffic public locations, creating a connected digital network linking information, services, and audiences across the emirate.
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