Road User Charging Conference Middle East & Africa (MEA) returns to Abu Dhabi on 28-29 May 2025, offering a dedicated platform for exploring how road usage charging (RUC), tolling technologies and intelligent transport systems are reshaping infrastructure funding across the region.

Now in its second year, the event draws on the global strength of the Road User Charging Conference series, with flagship editions in Brussels, Singapore and Miami. The 2025 MEA edition brings together public- and private-sector professionals from across the UAE, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco, Qatar and beyond to discuss region-specific challenges and global best practices.

At the event, Richard Lewis, vice-chair of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (Dubai), will explore RUC as a sustainable funding mechanism aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Drawing on examples from London and Singapore, Lewis will assess the feasibility of pilot RUC schemes in Riyadh and Dubai, designed to diversify revenue streams, modernise urban mobility and reduce environmental impact.

Johnson Kilangi, founder and CEO of Miundo Misingi, will delve into the structuring of user-financed PPP projects in Africa. His session will emphasise the role of robust assessments, willingness-to-pay studies and efficient toll collection systems in closing financing gaps and attracting sustainable investment.

 

Balázs Szilágyi, international relations specialist at Hungary’s National Toll Payment Services, will present 12 years of tolling success, including the integration of e-vignettes and distance-based charging. Szilágyi will reveal how Hungary’s latest AI enforcement tools and smartphone-based on-board units are transforming tolling efficiency – offering valuable insights for MEA countries seeking scalable solutions.

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Mulugeta Getu Sisay, senior researcher at the Policy Studies Institute, will examine how Ethiopia’s tolling networks, while improving travel times and safety, face equity and affordability challenges. Sisay will explore pricing schemes, including congestion charging, that balance revenue generation with social inclusivity.

 

Remi Adewunmi, director of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, will unpack Nigeria’s road management challenges, including funding shortfalls, maintenance backlogs and congestion. His session highlights the shift to cashless tolling, backed by the Smart National Transport Databank – Nigeria’s centralised digital platform for transport data.

 

Sefa Gundogdu, transportation engineer at Turkey’s General Directorate of Highways, will showcase practical applications of intersection designs, such as continuous flow intersections and displaced left turns. Using microsimulation analysis, Gundogdu will demonstrate how these designs improve traffic capacity, reduce delays and enhance safety across Türkiye’s national road network.

Hitesh Arora, transportation specialist and mobility expert at the Integrated Transport Centre, Abu Dhabi, will share global experiences in toll revenue forecasting across Russia, India, Africa and Europe. His session will cover growth drivers, risk analysis and comparisons between closed and open toll systems.

As the region advances infrastructure modernisation and funding innovation, Road User Charging Conference Middle East & Africa 2025 offers unrivalled insights and networking opportunities to help shape the future of transport.

This is just a taste of what to expect from an event that forms part of Akabo Media’s global Road User Charging Conference series, which boasts established editions in Brussels (the original Road User Charging Conference), Singapore (Road User Charging Conference Asia Pacific), and Miami (Road User Charging Conference USA).

Meet our partners 

Thought Leadership Partners

Vitronic is a global machine vision leader, offering advanced solutions in traffic enforcement, logistics, and industrial automation. Part of ITIS Holding and PPF Group since 2024, its Middle East and Africa branch serves regional clients from offices in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Rwanda, delivering tailored, high-quality solutions with global expertise.
www.vitronic.com

Aurora Insights is Akabo Media’s brand-new research and market intelligence service, with a sector focus on tolling and road-user charging. It offers a subscription-based service that entitles subscribers to exclusive video, audio and written content, including post-conference reports and analysis. The content is global, covering regions such as UK, Europe, America, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. All research is the culmination of Akabo Media’s 20-year history within the conference space, with the Road User Charging Conference series’ presentations, surveys, registration data and feedback acting as the driving force behind the platform’s content.
www.aurorainsights.co.uk

NGO Partner

Founded in 1978, Reason Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation in the USA that focuses on an array of policy issues, including transportation, where its research focuses on user fee funding and sensible financing of transportation projects, efficient project delivery, and competitive and customer-driven services that embrace technological innovations. Through practical and innovative approaches to complex problems, Reason seeks to change the way people think about issues and promote policies that allow and encourage individuals and voluntary institutions to flourish.
www.reason.org

For partnerships, contact Cristina Martins at cristina.martins@akabomedia.co.uk. For speaking opportunities, contact Shelby Laviniere at shelby.laviniere@akabomedia.co.uk. For delegate enquiries, contact Ross Sturley at ross.sturley@akabomedia.co.uk