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

  • Passenger drones to take to the skies in Dubai
    February 15, 2017
    Passenger drones could be seen in the skies above Dubai as early as July 2017, according to the city’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA). Speaking at the World Government Summit, Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of RTA, said the pilotless drones, designed to carry a weight of 100kg and a small suitcase, will have a range of 50 km and are on track to take off beginning in July 2017. The drones are part of Dubai’s strategy on autonomous transportation, under which 25 per cent of all journeys within the Emirat
    Read More
  • Global traffic management market expected to grow to US$12.69 billion by 2018
    November 11, 2013
    New research from Research and Markets indicates that the overall traffic management market, which stands at a total revenue of US$2,580 million in 2013, is expected to grow to US$12.69 billion at a CAGR of 37.5 per cent from 2013 to 2018. Traffic management reduces congestion and promotes a regular flow of traffic. Traffic management also proves to be money saving as it reduces the wastage of fuel. It decreases the carbon emissions from the vehicles and thus supports to keep our environment clean. Trans
    Read More
  • UK government to invest in autonomous cars, low emission vehicles
    November 24, 2016
    Presenting his Autumn Statement, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced investment in transportation, including £390 million for future transport and a major new investment in the UK transport infrastructure. The £390 million investment in future technology includes: investment in testing infrastructure for driverless cars; provision of at least 550 new electric and hydrogen buses, reduce the emissions of 1,500 existing buses and support taxis to become zero emission; installation of more charging points fo
    Read More
  • Arup picks 8 ways ITS can save the planet
    January 6, 2022
    The solutions we need to accelerate carbon-free transport are known, available and ready to be deployed. Tim Gammons from Arup explains what the ITS industry can do now to help…
    Read More

Highlighted Content