Latest news with #DubaiSmartSelf-DrivingTransportStrategy
Gulf Today
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Gulf Today
Trial run of robo-taxis by year end
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uber Technologies, Inc (NYSE: UBER), the world's leading technology platform for mobility and delivery, and WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD), a global leader in autonomous driving technology. Under the agreement, pilot operations of autonomous vehicles will commence later this year via Uber app in Dubai. In the initial phase, the vehicles will operate with a safety driver on board, paving the way for the full-scale commercial rollout of driverless services in 2026. Field preparations for the pilot phase are already underway, led by Uber and WeRide, with strategic support and supervision from RTA. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), along with Madhu Kannan, Chief Business Officer at Uber, and Ryan Zhan, Regional General Manager of Middle East and Africa at WeRide attended the MoU signing ceremony. The agreement was signed for RTA by Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of the Public Transport Agency, RTA; for Uber by Frans Hiemstra, Regional General Manager for the Middle East and Africa at Uber; and for WeRide by Eric Dong, Director of Capital Markets and Corporate Development at WeRide, in the presence of senior officials from all parties. Al Tayer expressed his pleasure at signing the MoU with Uber Technologies and WeRide, praising both companies for choosing Dubai as the global hub for expanding autonomous vehicle operations. Al Tayer stated: 'The introduction of autonomous vehicles in Dubai represents a significant leap towards a smart and sustainable future for mobility, in line with the vision of our leadership to transform Dubai into the world's smartest city. It also supports the objectives of Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which seeks to convert 25% of all mobility journeys in the emirate into autonomous trips across various transport modes by 2030. This MoU reinforces Dubai's global leadership in adopting advanced and sustainable transport solutions, embracing state-of-the-art technologies, and fostering innovative mobility initiatives.' Al Tayer added: 'Autonomous vehicles mark a major leap towards a more sustainable and safer future in transportation. The RTA is expanding its global partnerships to deploy a wide range of autonomous mobility solutions, including self-driving vehicles, air taxis, marine transport modes, and autonomous taxis.
Dubai Eye
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Dubai Eye
Dubai to start trialling self-driving taxis later this year
Dubai will start trialling self-driving taxis later this year under a new partnership between the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Uber Technologies and WeRide. The vehicles will be available via the Uber app and will initially operate with a safety driver on board. It will pave the way for the full-scale commercial rollout of driverless services in 2026, RTA announced on Sunday. "The introduction of self-driving taxis will enhance quality of life for residents and visitors, boost road safety, and promote seamless integration across the public transport network by facilitating access to final destinations in line with the specialised First and Last-Mile Strategy," highlighted Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA. It also represents "a significant leap towards a smart and sustainable future for mobility" and "supports the objectives of Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which seeks to convert 25 per cent of all mobility journeys in the emirate into autonomous trips by 2030". Frans Hiemstra, Regional General Manager, MEA at Uber, added that the "strategic collaboration anchors (their) commitment to make autonomous vehicles more accessible to people around the world and we're excited to bring this experience to thousands of riders in Dubai later this year".
Gulf Insider
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Gulf Insider
Dubai To Start Driverless Taxi Trials With Uber, WeRide This Year
Dubai is gearing up to take another bold leap in its smart mobility journey. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced today that it has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with Uber Technologies, Inc. and WeRide, a global autonomous driving leader, to kickstart pilot operations of self-driving taxis later this year. Initially, the autonomous vehicles (AVs) will operate with a safety driver on board and be available via the Uber app. These trials aim to pave the way for the full-scale, driverless commercial rollout of robotaxis in Dubai by 2026, aligning closely with the city's vision of making 25 per cent of all trips in Dubai autonomous by 2030. Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Uber Technologies, Inc, the world's leading technology platform for mobility and delivery, and WeRide, a global leader in autonomous driving technology. Under the agreement, pilot operations of… — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 15, 2025 The announcement follows RTA's strategic expansion of partnerships with major global AV technology providers, including Uber, WeRide, and Baidu's Apollo Go. These collaborations are part of the city's broader Self-Driving Transport Strategy and aim to establish Dubai as a global testing ground for next-gen mobility solutions. 'The introduction of autonomous vehicles in Dubai represents a significant leap towards a smart and sustainable future for mobility, in line with the vision of our leadership to transform Dubai into the world's smartest city,' said Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA. 'This MoU reinforces Dubai's global leadership in adopting advanced and sustainable transport solutions, embracing state-of-the-art technologies, and fostering innovative mobility initiatives.' The partnerships, he added, also support the goals of the Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which seeks to convert 25% of all mobility journeys in the emirate into autonomous trips across various transport modes by 2030. The collaboration is also part of RTA's First and Last-Mile Strategy, designed to streamline travel between public transport stations and commuters' starting or ending points. WeRide, which already launched robotaxis in Abu Dhabi in 2021, now deepens its presence in the UAE with this Dubai pilot. Baidu, meanwhile, is preparing its debut via its autonomous ride-hailing platform Apollo Go, which has already logged more than 150 million kilometers of autonomous driving in China. This marks Dubai as a key international hub for AV expansion beyond East Asia, North America, and Europe. 'We're building the future of transportation by collaborating with top AV innovators to bring this technology to cities across the world,' said Noah Zych, Uber's Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery Operations. 'Dubai is a natural next step.' WeRide operates in over 30 cities across 10 countries and holds driverless permits in the UAE, China, the US, Singapore, and France. Its tie-up with Uber in Dubai is its second regional collaboration after Abu Dhabi. RTA sees autonomous vehicles as a critical tool for reducing traffic accidents—90 per cent of which are caused by human error. AVs also expand access to transport for people of determination, the elderly, and others with limited mobility. Baidu's Apollo Go, which will also offer its services through its dedicated app in Dubai, has become the world's largest operator of driverless fleets. Its sixth-generation robotaxi, the RT6, has been widely welcomed by riders in China for comfort, safety, and efficiency. By 2026, Dubai's streets could see fully driverless taxis becoming a familiar sight. Residents and visitors will be able to hail WeRide vehicles using Uber, while Baidu's Apollo Go app will offer another alternative. Today's signing signals more than just a test run—it's Dubai's commitment to redefining urban mobility. With multiple global AV leaders now plugged into the city's ecosystem, the emirate is positioning itself at the forefront of the driverless revolution in the region.
TAG 91.1
a day ago
- Automotive
- TAG 91.1
Dubai to start trialling self-driving taxis later this year
Dubai will start trialling self-driving taxis later this year under a new partnership between the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Uber Technologies and WeRide. The vehicles will be available via the Uber app and will initially operate with a safety driver on board. It will pave the way for the full-scale commercial rollout of driverless services in 2026, RTA announced on Sunday. "The introduction of self-driving taxis will enhance quality of life for residents and visitors, boost road safety, and promote seamless integration across the public transport network by facilitating access to final destinations in line with the specialised First and Last-Mile Strategy," highlighted Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA. It also represents "a significant leap towards a smart and sustainable future for mobility" and "supports the objectives of Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which seeks to convert 25 per cent of all mobility journeys in the emirate into autonomous trips by 2030". Frans Hiemstra, Regional General Manager, MEA at Uber, added that the "strategic collaboration anchors (their) commitment to make autonomous vehicles more accessible to people around the world and we're excited to bring this experience to thousands of riders in Dubai later this year".
