Roads & Transport Authority - News Details

UAE, 00 February 2026: His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, said: “Global cities are experiencing an unprecedented phase of accelerated change across all dimensions, including growth, technology, public expectations, and environmental challenges.”

 

He noted that this reality requires governments to redefine their roles and tools in leading major transformations, shifting from the role of operator to that of enabler and regulator, while empowering the private sector to drive innovation through clear and structured partnerships—an approach he stressed is essential to ensuring sustainable growth and enhancing quality of life for future generations.

 

He added that during the previous edition of the Summit, and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, a memorandum of understanding was signed with The Boring Company to study the implementation of the Dubai Loop project.

 

Al Tayer said: “The project has since moved from the study phase to implementation, with the support of the wise leadership, and is set to become a reality in the near future. It represents a step change in the emirate’s transport system.”

 

He emphasised that the project constitutes a transformative solution for first- and last-mile mobility trips, aimed at introducing innovative approaches within this segment of the mobility ecosystem.

 

These remarks were delivered during the main panel discussion at World Government Summit 2026, moderated by journalist Mina Al-Oraibi, and attended by a distinguished gathering of decision-makers, government leaders, and representatives from international organisations and the private sector. 

 

The session examined the role of governments in leading urban transformation, the future of mobility, and the importance of partnerships in building resilient cities capable of adapting to accelerating global change.

 

Era of Urban Acceleration
Al Tayer said: “The current phase facing global cities can be described as an era of urban acceleration, driven by population growth, rapid technological advancement, rising public expectations, and escalating environmental challenges.”

He noted that more than 55% of the world’s population currently lives in cities, a proportion expected to rise to 70% by 2050, placing increasing pressure on infrastructure and urban services.

He added that Dubai has recorded an annual population growth rate of around 7%, with the daytime population close to 6 million, alongside sustained growth in international tourism. 

 

The emirate welcomed more than 17 million international visitors last year, representing a 5% increase compared to 2024.

 

Al Tayer added: “Global geopolitical developments have contributed to strengthening Dubai’s attractiveness as a preferred destination for living and long-term settlement, underpinned by the emirate’s high standards of quality of life, safety, and stability.”

 

He affirmed that Dubai’s vision, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is centred on transitioning towards a mobility ecosystem that places people at the heart of planning. 

 

This approach aims to reduce travel time and emissions while enhancing quality of life, enabling the emirate’s shift from a city designed for vehicles to a city designed for people.

 

Confidence and Quality of Life Indicators
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer said: “Dubai’s attractiveness is also reflected in qualitative indicators that underscore the confidence of high-net-worth individuals and business leaders in the emirate’s economic and social environment.” 

 

He noted that the number of luxury vehicles registered in Dubai has reached approximately 170,000 vehicles, while the cumulative value of premium number plates over the past three years has totalled around AED 1.7 billion, reaffirming Dubai’s position as a preferred global destination for living and investment.

 

He said that these indicators, together with rapid population growth and rising visitor numbers, place direct pressure on infrastructure systems and quality of life. 

 

This reality, he explained, calls for innovative solutions and sustainable investments that balance the need to accommodate growth with maintaining service efficiency, at a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping how services are designed and how swiftly decisions are made.

 

Environmental Challenges and Rising Expectations
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer said: “Environmental challenges are among the most pressing issues facing cities today, given that urban areas account for more than 70% of global carbon emissions.” 

 

He added that this reality requires governments to adopt sustainable transport solutions that reduce reliance on private vehicles.

 

He also highlighted that customer expectations continue to rise, particularly among younger generations, who benchmark government services against the world’s leading digital practices and expect nothing less than fully integrated and seamless service experiences.

 

From Operator to Enabler
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer said: “Are governments capable of addressing these challenges on their own? The clear answer is no. The next phase requires governments to move from the role of operator to that of enabler and regulator, while empowering the private sector to lead innovation through partnerships defined by clear objectives and standards. This approach is reinforced by the outcomes of the World Economic Forum 2026, which highlight the importance of strengthening public–private partnerships, particularly in technology and the urban economy.”

 

He explained: “Dubai is a city that transforms challenges into opportunities, having adopted this approach at an early stage through the development of flexible legislative and regulatory frameworks. Among the most prominent of these is the Public–Private Partnership Law, which provides a clear regulatory framework, accelerates decision-making, ensures the highest standards of governance, and empowers the private sector.”

 

He added that the law establishing the Roads and Transport Authority enabled commercial transformation and the creation of specialised companies, contributing positively to service development, enhanced operational efficiency, and improved customer experience.

 

Al Tayer said: “Today, we have four companies established by the RTA with a combined market value of nearly AED 80 billion: Salik, which manages road tolling; Parkin, which oversees public parking operations; Mada Media, which manages outdoor advertising assets; and Dubai Taxi, which provides taxi services.” 

 

He affirmed that these companies have contributed to the development of several RTA services over the past few years.

 

Partnership Success Stories
Al Tayer explained that Dubai had been keen to build global strategic partnerships in the fields of smart and sustainable mobility, stressing that partners were selected according to rigorous criteria. 

 

These included safety as a priority, scalable technological maturity, operational readiness, robust data governance, and full integration with the wider transport ecosystem.

 

He highlighted several partnership success stories, noting that the establishment of Hala Taxi in partnership with Careem, which transformed taxi booking management, had contributed to reducing waiting times from 11 minutes to just 3 minutes—demonstrating the direct and measurable impact of effective public–private collaboration.

 

Reflecting on the early days of Uber, he recalled that the company had faced resistance from governments around the world due to its impact on the taxi sector. 

 

In Dubai, however, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had adopted a different approach by insisting on the establishment of a clear regulatory framework for e-booking companies providing taxi and limousine services. 

 

This vision, he said, had positioned Dubai at the forefront of smart and sustainable mobility by enabling the emirate, under the guidance and close follow-up of its leadership, to forge global strategic partnerships that advanced sustainable mobility solutions.

 

He added that Dubai today takes pride in its strategic partnerships with leading global companies. 

 

In the field of Aerial Taxi, partnerships had been established with Joby and Skyports, alongside collaborations in autonomous taxi services with Baidu, Pony AI, Uber, and WeRide. 

 

Through these partnerships, he explained, Dubai was steadily advancing its transition from a city centred on vehicles to a city centred on people.

 

Managing Mobility Demand
He stressed that the continuous expansion of the road network, regardless of scale, would not be sufficient on its own to address congestion challenges amid the rapid growth in vehicle numbers. 

 

He explained that the annual increase in registered vehicles in Dubai had reached around 10%, compared to global growth rates ranging between 2% and 3%.

 

Al Tayer said: “These realities underscore the need to focus on managing mobility demand by providing a modern and comfortable public transport system that encourages residents to shift from private vehicle use to more efficient and sustainable mass transit options. Dubai’s global partnerships are driven by a clear vision, rapid decision-making, and direct support from the leadership—factors that continue to position the emirate as a preferred partner for global companies seeking to pilot and develop future mobility solutions.”

 

Turning Vision into Reality
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer outlined the key factors that had contributed to translating Dubai’s vision into tangible reality, explaining that the emirate’s success had been underpinned by three core pillars: bold investment, decisive decision-making, and rigorous execution, particularly given that infrastructure is the main steering force for economic growth.

 

He said that the Government of Dubai had invested around AED 175 billion in the roads and transport sector over the past 20 years, generating tangible economic and social returns. These included savings in time and fuel costs amounting to around AED 320 billion, a contribution exceeding AED 156 billion to the emirate’s GDP, and additional direct investment of more than AED 32 billion in logistics and distribution services. 

 

He also highlighted the reduction in road traffic fatalities from 22 to 1.8 deaths per 100,000 population.

 

He added that Dubai’s emergence as a global model had been driven by early investment ahead of full demand, proactive long-term planning, and the establishment of effective global partnerships.

 

From Pilot to Operation
His Excellency affirmed that Dubai had adopted a clear methodology for transitioning from pilot projects to full-scale deployment, based on the principle of “test, regulate, then operate,” supported by stringent criteria covering technical, regulatory, and operational readiness, alongside robust safety standards.

 

He noted that this methodology had enabled Dubai to move decisively into the operational deployment of advanced solutions.

 

Autonomous buses had begun with limited trials before expanding under precise controls, while on-demand transport had evolved from a pilot application into a daily service relied upon by the public. 

 

He revealed that preparations were underway to officially launch the Aerial Taxi by the end of 2026 under a legislative framework that is the first of its kind globally, while autonomous taxi services were set to commence official operations on the emirate’s roads during the first quarter of 2026. 

 

He stressed that governance remained the key instrument ensuring rapid implementation without compromising public safety.

 

Leading the Future of Autonomous Mobility
Al Tayer said: “Dubai’s success in autonomous mobility is not driven by technology alone, but by clarity of decision-making. In 2016, the emirate set a strategic target for 25% of all mobility journeys to be autonomous by 2030, given the significant economic, environmental, and social benefits this transition delivers. Chief among these are a reduction in road traffic accidents by up to 90%, lower transport-related costs, reduced emissions, and more efficient use of road infrastructure.”

 

He explained that RTA’s autonomous mobility strategy is built around four integrated pathways: autonomous vehicles, autonomous buses, autonomous abras, and the Aerial Taxi. 

 

Moreover, he said that the success of cities today is not measured by the number of trials they conduct, but by their ability to transition safely and at scale into full operational deployment—an outcome Dubai has achieved in practice.

 

Al Tayer added: “Alliances in the field of smart mobility are not a choice but a necessity. Our partners are selected according to stringent criteria, foremost among them safety, scalable technological maturity, operational readiness, strict data governance, and full integration with the wider transport ecosystem.”

 

He further noted that a fundamental condition is consistently applied when entering into any partnership: delivering tangible local impact through collaboration with leading global companies capable of supporting the development and long-term sustainability of local capacities. 

 

Partnerships in major projects such as Dubai Metro, the Aerial Taxi, autonomous vehicles, and smart control centres have resulted in the establishment of robust management systems and the development of specialised national talent capable of operating and managing these complex systems—representing the true guarantee of sustainability.

 

Dubai as an Innovation Incubator
“Dubai does not wait for technology to emerge; it actively creates the environment in which innovation can succeed, driven by the clear vision of its leadership. The World Government Summit has served, and continues to serve, as a launch platform for major strategic projects, and Dubai remains open to global partnerships and innovative ideas that enhance quality of life and reinforce the emirate’s position as the world’s best city to live in.”