Dubai to focus on self-driving buses as it pushes for more driverless journeys

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched its 3rd Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport 2023. It features a first-of-its-kind event in the field of self-driving transport, with submissions to focus on self-driving buses.

The self-driving transport competition was launched under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. Candidates will compete for prize money amounting to $2.3 million (AED8.45 million).

The challenge is part of RTA’s efforts to support the leading role of Dubai in self-driving transport, and its commitment to realising the Government’s vision to transform 25 percent of total mobility journeys in Dubai into driverless ones by 2030.

Registration for the challenge opened on May 30 through its designated website. Finalists will be announced in October this year, and winners will be revealed in October 2023 during the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport 2023. 

The inclusion of self-driving buses highlights the RTA’s commitment to support the efforts of the Dubai Government in expanding the use of autonomous technologies across the board. $2 million has been allocated to leading companies, and $300,000 have been set aside for local academic institutes.

All local and global firms can make submissions under the Leading Companies category, provided that the company is registered in the country of origin or locally and operates in the field of developing or operating self-driving buses. 

The Local Academia category includes all universities, institutes and research centres in the UAE interested in autonomous technologies research and engaged in developing related models.

In February, Dubai announced it will begin trials for driverless taxis and e-hailing services this year, making it one of the first cities outside the US to operate such vehicles, according to an official statement.

Through its partnership with General Motors-backed Cruise, the RTA is set to deploy a limited number of Cruise autonomous vehicles in 2023, with plans to gradually scale up operations to reach 4,000 self-driving taxis by 2030.

Dubai intends to make 56 percent of its taxi fleet environmentally friendly by 2023 and also aims to convert 5 percent of the cars to autonomous vehicles by the same year.

UAE residents believe that artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and self-driving cars will have a positive impact, according to a recent YouGov survey. With its favourable business legislation and forward-looking mindset, the UAE has become a test ground for new tech.