Press Releases
27 Sep 2023
Al Tayer attends signature of 3 MoUs in Self-Driving Transport
(Al Tayer Unveils Dubai Autonomous Transport Zone as theme for the 4th Challenge )
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), unveiled the theme for the next, fourth edition of the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport 2025, which will focus on designing ‘Dubai Autonomous Transport Zone’. The initiative involves creating a model district that offers multiple integrated transit means within a single area, enabling residents to select their preferred mode of transport that is convenient and offers quality service. The underlining objective is to design a global model for cities in autonomous mobility.
The Dubai Autonomous Transport Zone is set to be a world-first, encompassing a vast array of autonomous transport modes, including light vehicles and autonomous delivery robots. Details of the challenge will be disclosed and elaborated at the start of 2024, which resonates RTA's vision to be “The World Leader in Seamless and Sustainable Mobility."
An announcement to this effect was made at the close of the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport held at the Dubai World Trade Centre over two days under the theme “Empowering Mobility 4.0.”
3 MoUs
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, attended the signing of three memoranda of understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of the congress aimed to undertake trials for operating autonomous buses in Dubai.
The first 2 agreements were signed with the two winners of the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport, namely the Chinese King Long Company, and the Egyptian Bright Drive company, with the aim of sharing expertise in the field of self-driving buses. The third MoU was sealed with SAE International, a leading entity in mobility and finding solutions to provide safe and eco-friendly means of transport.
Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of the Public Transport Agency, signed the three MoUs on behalf of RTA. Mr. CHEN Weiqiang, Chief Executive Officer Smart Transportation Business Unit, King Long and Mr Hossam Yahia, Chief Technology Officer BrightDrive, signed on behalf of BrightDrive, and Mr. Frank Menchaca, President of SAE’ Sustainable Mobility Solutions, signed on behalf of SAE International.