Dubai launches autonomous vehicle strategy

Dubai has taken a major step towards autonomous vehicles with the launch of its Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy, which aims to transform 25 per cent of the total transportation in Dubai to autonomous mode by 2030. The Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy is expected to save US$6 billion in annual economic revenues by reducing transportation costs, carbon emissions and accidents, and raising the productivity of individuals as well as saving hundreds of millions of hours wasted in conventional tr
April 26, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

Dubai has taken a major step towards autonomous vehicles with the launch of its Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy, which aims to transform 25 per cent of the total transportation in Dubai to autonomous mode by 2030.

The Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy is expected to save US$6 billion in annual economic revenues by reducing transportation costs, carbon emissions and accidents, and raising the productivity of individuals as well as saving hundreds of millions of hours wasted in conventional transportation.

The emirate believes the strategy will help cut transportation costs by 44 per cent and help reduce environmental pollution by 12 per cent, as well increasing the efficiency of the transportation sector in Dubai by 2030.

The strategy also aims to reduce traffic accidents and losses by 12 per cent, equivalent to savings of US$544 million annually. It will save 396 million hours on transportation trips yearly and reduce the spaces allocated for parking.

According to a study carried out by the World Economic Forum in partnership with Dubai’s Road Traffic Authority and Dubai Future Foundation, 70 per cent of Dubai's residents prefer to use autonomous transportation.  Residents expressed a preference for such transportation systems citing potential for increased productivity and elimination of the need for searching parking spaces.

Launching the strategy, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai said the goal was to make the UAE a global source of the future for various sectors, including smart cities, clean energy, autonomous transportation, sustainable infrastructure and legislation for the future.

Stressing that future technology will restructure economies and transform the global competitiveness balance, he called for proactive efforts to take advantage of the emerging situation.

Sheikh Mohammed also announced the launch of Dubai World Autonomous Transportation Challenge as a global RFP to encourage the world's most innovative international companies, academic institutions and centres of research and development to test the latest advances in this technology by providing transportations solutions and scenarios that are realistic and tailored for the streets of Dubai.

Location Based Systems

Related Content

  • Traveller experience study identifies key themes for improving transport network
    October 14, 2015
    The UK’s Transport Systems Catapult has identified key areas of development in the transport network in its traveller experience study, Traveller Needs, which comprised of 10,000 online questionnaire respondents, 50 company interviews, and 100 expert interviews. The research found that 75 per cent of journeys are characterised by pain-points, with 57 per cent of travellers always looking for ways to optimise their journey. Public transport is considered to be poor value for money with the ‘high cost
    Read More
  • Road user charging potential solution to transportation problems
    December 14, 2012
    A number of new and highly significant open road tolling schemes have just been launched or are soon to ‘go live’. Systems of road user charging are flexing their muscles as the means to solve politically sensitive transportation problems, reports Jon Masters. Gothenburg, January 2013, will be the time and place for the launch of the next city congestion charging scheme in Europe. In a separate development, Los Angeles County’s tolled Metro ExpressLanes began operating in November 2012 – the latest in a ser
    Read More
  • San Fran moots congestion pricing to 'unclog'
    October 1, 2020
    City needs to cut rush-hour traffic substantially in order to ease jams
    Read More
  • CIHT manifesto calls for national UK transport strategy
    September 26, 2014
    The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) has launched its manifesto outlining the Institution’s proposals and views on key issues affecting the industry. Making the Journey - A Manifesto for Transport highlights the benefits of this sector to the UK’s economy and society and calls for a national transport strategy to provide clear direction and certainty for UK transport policy. It also points out the need for a longer-term view and commitment to future funding for the UK’s transpo
    Read More

Highlighted Content