Innovation in RTA
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has a vision to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world. Innovation is a key driver in this transformation journey. In order to realise this vision, RTA is committed to be the innovation and future shaping leader across transport entities regionally and globally by excelling in our innovative products & services, while delivering safe and smooth transport for all. We will create sustainable added-value for all our customers by embedding innovation as a catalyst for change across services, products, processes and business models of the organisation and towards creating sustainable added-value for all the stakeholders.
We build our innovation agenda over the following "key principles":
- To focus our innovation efforts on solving the most relevant problems & challenges that impact our customers and the mobility of Dubai;
- To minimize cost, efforts and duration per innovation with readiness to accept any risks or failures that may occur;
- To work with partners and strategic stakeholders openly and fluently;
- To document and share the lessons learned from our failures and successes;
- To dedicate the best available resources to make innovation happen;
- We believe innovation is a team sport and we are committed to pursue its benefits working in an agile way.
In the following years, we will be generating innovative solutions across several areas within the roads & transportation sector. To enable all Agencies and Sectors to innovate, we have established 5 Innovation & Future pillars:
- Innovation Governance: To provide guidance and support in the deployment of innovative products and solutions.
- Innovation Culture: To develop an environment that fosters innovation through risk-taking mindset and collaboration within and outside RTA.
- Innovation Talent: To build innovation talent in our people, and effectively recruit, retain and train innovation talent.
- Innovation Process: To continuously enhance internal processes and operations using innovative solutions and emerging technologies.
- Future Foresight: To ensure pioneering position of RTA in future shaping and contribution of RTA towards local and global future shaping initiatives.
RTA aims to be a pioneer of Innovation, which has already been demonstrated through our current portfolio of more than 150 innovation projects with several breakthrough projects such as Air Taxi, Smart Yard & Hyperloop, amongst many others. We strive to continue to innovate and build solutions that will transform Dubai into the smartest and most innovative city in the world.
It monitors and controls roads and transit systems in Dubai. It is considered one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated control centres in terms of smart technologies used, combined control & coordination between all RTA’s public transit systems, and the proper planning of mobility to address various challenges in the Emirate. The Center plays a key role in organising mobility during key exhibitions and events held in Dubai.

nol card is a smart card that enables you to pay for the use of various RTA transport modes in Dubai with a single tap. You can use your nol card to travel on Dubai Metro, Buses, Dubai Tram and marine transport modes. You can also use nol card to pay for RTA's Paid Parking.

S’hail is the best app to help you move around Dubai quickly and easily. This application lets you manage your nol account, book taxis and RTA’s luxury vehicles, book smart application-guided taxis and on-demand transportation vehicles, plan your bus trips between cities, in addition to accessing all information about public transportation and much more.

Measure customer's happiness index through smart cameras that analyse the extent of their happiness. The technology analyses the facial expressions of customers, without saving images in respect of their privacy, before and after processing their transactions at the centre. Accordingly, the technology gives an instant and accurate indicator of customers' happiness

The Yard is fitted with smart driver-testing vehicles capable of detecting areas of testing manoeuvres and driver’s response to each maneuver, thanks to sophisticated cameras linked to a central processor capable of capturing all data, computing errors automatically, and automatically judging if the applicant has passed or failed

The system will monitor the conduct of drivers, attendants and students onboard while the bus is in motion. It will remotely monitor the outer surrounding of the bus, identify the real-time location of the bus and figure out its operational conditions as well. The system will automatically record three traffic offences: overtaking the school bus from both sides when the Stop sign is opened, lack of buckling up the safety belt by the driver or riders, and failing to leave a sufficient distance between the bus and other vehicles,

Udrive is the first vehicle sharing provider in the Middle East that provides car rental by the minute. It works by locating a vehicle through our mobile app to access and drive them after you have registered with us. End your trip at your destination and only pay for the time you used the vehicle, including fuel and public parking in Dubai and Sharjah (as provided on the permit inside.)

Accelerator
- The Innovation Accelerator Program is a 12 weeks program for RTA employees in which innovative ideas are catapulted into concepts and prototypes.
Hackathons
- Hackathons are run in partnership with startups to solve key challenges within the transportation sector in Dubai.
10X
- Initiatives launched as part of Dubai 10X that sets the Government of Dubai on a mission to be 10 years ahead of all other cities around the world.
Innovation Lab
- A one-day ideation program, where participants from different backgrounds collaboratively come up with new ideas and / or solutions to tackle specific business goals, challenges or opportunities
Trainings
- A series of trainings to build innovation capabilities and embed a culture of innovative thinking within the organization.
Idea Management System
- RTA provides a platform for employees, customers, vendors, partners and all key stakeholders to submit ideas that are beneficial to RTA
Rewards & Recognition Program
- RTA rewards and recognizes its employees, customers, vendors, partners and all key stakeholders that share ideas with added value and participation in scientific research
Awareness sessions
- RTA conducts several innovation awareness sessions every year such as Innovation & Future Hour, which is a 1-hour talk on areas related to Innovation & Future that is conducted every month.
Partnerships
- RTA has established more than 100 partnerships internationally and locally with governments, universities and private companies
Innovation Lab
- Space where innovation labs are held by agencies and sectors, where Innovative concepts are conceptualized and designed by the innovation lab teams.
Innovation Hub
- An Innovation hall, where workshops, trainings and awareness sessions are conducted around the topic of innovation and novelty.
Innovation Room
- An innovation room within the Knowledge and Innovation department for employees to brainstorm about innovative ideas.
Training Facility
- Dedicated training facility to organize trainings for RTA employees regularly on various different topics, including innovation.