Dubai: A technical team from Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has observed comprehensive field tests on consortia competing in the 4th Edition of the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport 2025, which offers a total prize pool of USD $3 million. The trials were conducted across four cities in China, using real-world road environments to evaluate their technologies.
According to Emirates News Agency, Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of the Public Transport Agency and Head of the Organising Committee of the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport, outlined the objectives of the visit. The technical team's visit to China aimed to conduct comprehensive field tests on self-driving vehicles, gain insights into participating companies, visit headquarters and control centers, and define the next steps of the Challenge. These activities are intended to assess technical and operational performance, understand the potential of each autonomous system, and establish long-term strategic relationships.
Bahrozyan highlighted that the field visits took place in Guangzhou, Xi'an, Guiyang, and Suzhou. The comprehensive evaluation process involved RTA's technical team, advisory jury panel, and experts from FEV Consulting and Arthur D. Little. A total of five autonomous vehicles were tested, including a Robotaxi, two Robobuses, a Roboboat, and an autonomous logistics vehicle. The evaluations used objective assessment methodologies and high-precision measurement tools.
RTA developed a dedicated field-testing methodology for the challenge. Tests were categorized into Standstill Tests, Mixed Traffic Tests, and Dedicated Tests. Standstill Tests focused on evaluating system performance while stationary, Mixed Traffic Tests assessed real-world traffic conditions, and Dedicated Tests evaluated specific scenarios in controlled environments.
In parallel, RTA is organizing the 4th Edition of the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport 2025, themed 'Redefining Mobility: The Path to Autonomy.' The event will be held from 24 to 25 September, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The congress aims to accelerate the transition to smart, self-driving mobility, supporting Dubai's strategic objective of transforming 25% of all trips into smart and autonomous journeys by 2030.