Dubai: Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the fourth Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Organised by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the event brings together over 3,000 participants from around the world, along with more than 80 speakers, including senior officials, researchers, experts, and developers in self-driving technologies.
According to Emirates News Agency, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed honoured strategic partners and sponsors of both the Congress and the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport 2025. Upon his arrival, he was received by Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of the RTA, and briefed on the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Zone, a 15-square-kilometre hub featuring multiple modes of autonomous mobility. This includes the Metro, an autonomous bus, a logistics vehicle, a road-cleaning vehicle, a delivery robot, and an autonomous abra.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed reviewed the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy 2025-2040, which aims to increase the share of trips made via autonomous transport from 20.4 percent currently to 25 percent by 2030 and 36 percent by 2040. During the opening ceremony, a film on the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport was screened, showcasing RTA's efforts to support the Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy. This strategy, launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, targets transforming 25 percent of all trips in Dubai into smart, driverless journeys by 2030.
The keynote address was delivered by Sol Rashidi, the world's first Chief AI Officer, who discussed AI applications across various sectors. She presented a framework for deploying AI technologies and integrating them into daily life to enhance services. Rashidi emphasized the importance of balancing innovation acceleration with responsible technology use, ensuring sustainable benefits and public trust.
A film on the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport was also shown, highlighting its US$3 million prize pool. The fourth cycle of the Challenge saw participation requests exceed the target by 170 percent, with five consortia and companies qualifying for the final stage. Field tests were conducted across four Chinese cities, categorized into stationary, land vehicle, and marine vehicle tests.
Mattar Al Tayer awarded the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport winners. WeRide and Deutsche Bahn won first place for a project integrating a self-driving taxi with a bus, receiving US$900,000. Zealous Technology from Singapore secured second place, winning US$300,000 for a comprehensive self-driving transport solution.
The Congress serves as a global platform for autonomous mobility, attracting experts and specialists to exchange insights on connected and self-driving vehicles. It underscores Dubai's pioneering role in self-driving transport and aims to attract global expertise, raise community awareness, and highlight investment opportunities in mobility technologies.