Dubai: H.H. 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, inaugurated the Dubai World Self-Driving Transport Exhibition, organised by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
According to Emirates News Agency, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed emphasized Dubai's commitment to becoming a global hub for innovation and future-driven technologies. He highlighted the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to make Dubai a future-ready city that swiftly adopts innovations to enhance the quality of life.
The Self-Driving Transport Strategy is integral to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, aiming to double the emirate's economy and consolidate its global leadership in various sectors. An integrated approach focusing on research, investment, and cutting-edge technologies ensures Dubai's leadership in global transformations, particularly in the digital economy and emerging technology sectors such as artificial intelligence.
The exhibition features 55 exhibitors showcasing self-driving vehicles, robotics, and artificial intelligence technologies. Notable unveilings include TENSOR's self-driving vehicles and XPENG's autonomous aircraft. The event is part of the Dubai World Congress and Challenge for Self-Driving Transport, attracting over 3,000 attendees and more than 80 speakers from around the world.
Their Highnesses received updates on the self-driving taxi service, with pilot operations underway by companies Baidu Apollo Go, WeRide, and Pony.ai, using more than 60 self-driving vehicles in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim. A commercial launch is planned for 2026.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of Dubai's RTA, briefed Their Highnesses on the unified visual identity for self-driving vehicles under the 'Dubai Future Ride' name, promising an exceptional passenger experience through AI-powered interactive entertainment screens. The Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy aims to increase autonomous transport trips from 20.4% to 25% by 2030 and 36% by 2040.