“It’s impressive to see the Middle East’s commitment to electric mobility. They’re building their own ecosystem and seeking the right technological partners,” said Kevin Mc Allister, CTO of WonderBits.
From October 27 to November 2, 2025, WonderBits took part in a business mission to the Gulf, organized by IVACE +i Internacional —under the Conselleria de Innovación, Industria, Comercio y Turismo led by Marián Cano— in collaboration with AVIA, el Clúster de Automoción y Movilidad de la Comunitat Valenciana.
The Valencian delegation was coordinated by Jackie Sánchez-Molero Fernández, Director of AVIA, and accompanied by Cristina Villó Sirerol, Director of the Internationalization Area at IVACE +i. The group also included representatives from Grupo TICE Ingenieros, Grupo SPAG, and Creix Group.
Representing WonderBits, Darío Terrés (CEO) and Kevin Mc Allister (CTO) traveled to the region. They held institutional and business meetings in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to explore opportunities for collaboration in advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and industrial and logistics automation.
It was an experience that combined innovation, business, and culture — and offered a first-hand look at how Gulf countries are transforming their productive model at a pace difficult to match from Europe.
Saudi Arabia: An Expanding Industrial Ecosystem
The mission began in Riyadh with a meeting at the National Industrial Development Center (NIDC), the body responsible for driving the national automotive cluster and the development of special economic zones.
The discussion focused on the evolution of the Saudi market and the industrial initiatives of Saudi Vision 2030. It also addressed the need to accelerate industrial innovation through digitalization and new public–private collaboration models.
The delegation was also received by the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority (ECZA), responsible for the Kingdom’s special economic zones. The meeting examined the advantages of the King Abdullah Economic City Special Economic Zone (KAEC SEZ) and the potential for collaboration with Valencian technology companies.
The day concluded with a visit to the EV Auto Show 2025, the largest Saudi event for electric mobility manufacturers, integrators, and public-sector stakeholders.
The event reflected the momentum of Vision 2030, which aims for at least 30% of vehicles in Riyadh to be electric by 2030. The Gulf market exceeds 35 million private vehicles and adds between 2 and 3 million new registrations each year, making it one of the most dynamic regions for sector transformation.
Economic Context: Meeting with ICEX in Riyadh
We were also received by the Oficina Económica y Comercial de España en Riad (ICEX), where we gained deeper insight into the Kingdom, its economic and financial landscape, its market dynamics, and its main diversification initiatives. The meeting was attended by Leonardo Rodríguez, principal economic counsellor; Christian Garma, economic counsellor; and Mercedes Fernández, head of market intelligence.
Although WonderBits held meetings with private companies, the rest of the delegation met with the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA)and the Public Investment Fund (PIF).. During the session, the Saudi teams presented their strategic projects in sustainable mobility, automotive components, and advanced manufacturing, as well as cooperation opportunities aligned with Vision 2030.
United Arab Emirates: Three Emirates, One Shared Vision
After the Saudi stage, the mission continued in the United Arab Emirates, with visits to Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi. Each emirate offers a distinct yet complementary approach to industrial and logistics innovation.
The delegation also visited the Oficina Económica y Comercial de España en Dubái, part of the Spanish Embassy. The meeting provided an opportunity to compare perspectives on business expansion in the region and to better understand the regulatory particularities of each emirate.
Dubai
A major economic showcase for the country, bringing together free zones, multinational headquarters, and advanced industrial parks.
Sharjah
An academic-oriented ecosystem focused on applied research and prototyping, driven by the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK).
Abu Dabi
The country’s capital and its main energy and industrial hub, home to major conglomerates and large logistics centers such as KEZAD Group.
“Our approach brings together AI and analytics with deep knowledge of the automotive sector. We speak the same language when it comes to innovation, data, and efficiency,” noted Darío Terrés, CEO of WonderBits.
Visited Centers and Identified Opportunities
📍 Dubai Industrial City
An industrial and logistics hub connecting Jebel Ali Port with Al Maktoum Airport — a clear example of integration between physical infrastructure and digital management systems.
📍 SPARK – Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park
A center specializing in prototyping, robotics, and autonomous mobility. The visit explored synergies in predictive analytics, fleet management, and intelligent systems.
📍 KEZAD Group (Abu Dabi)
The emirate’s logistics backbone, where discussions focused on intralogistics, autonomous fleets, and industrial process optimization — areas directly linked to the capabilities of the RobotVEC platform.
📍 Dubai Future Foundation
The final visit of the mission. WonderBits presented RobotVEC and examined its potential applications in semi-controlled mobility environments and smart-city projects.
The foundation’s team outlined its strategic roadmap through 2034, structured around biennial milestones in autonomous mobility, smart cities, and advanced automation.
Throughout the mission, Jackie Sánchez-Molero served as a key liaison between the Valencian ecosystem and local stakeholders.
What Surprised Us Most
The mission also highlighted the importance of building relationships of trust in the region.
In the Gulf, business begins with conversation: coffee arrives before the slides, and credibility is earned through presence rather than presentations.
The scale of the projects was equally striking. While Europe focuses on optimizing existing industrial parks, the Emirates design economic cities from scratch—built to be digital, sustainable, and connected from the outset.
Each meeting blended technology, hospitality, and forward-thinking vision: an Arabic coffee, a discussion on data and sustainability, and the shared understanding that technology is a common language across cultures.
A Mission with Long-Term Potential
WonderBits returns to Valencia with new contacts, projects under evaluation, and a clear sense that collaboration with the Gulf is only just beginning.
Opportunities in the region demand continuity and on-the-ground presence, as well as strong alliances like those built alongside AVIA, IVACE +i, Cámara Valencia, and TICE Ingenieros throughout this mission.
We would like to extend a special thanks to Cristina Villo Sirerol and the team at IVACE +i Internacional for their institutional coordination, and to Jackie Sánchez-Molero and the AVIA cluster for their support and for facilitating contact with key industry stakeholders.
Actions like this help ensure that the technology developed in Valencia finds its place within the world’s leading industrial ecosystems.