UAE Dubai is accelerating its push toward becoming a global leader in driverless mobility with two landmark agreements signed by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) with Emaar Properties and Al-Futtaim. The partnerships will transform Dubai Festival City and Creek Harbour into the emirate’s first Autonomous Transport Zone, serving as testbeds for cutting-edge self-driving technologies.
The agreements were formalised during the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport 2025, in the presence of Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA; Mohamed Alabbar, Founder of Emaar and Noon and Chairman of Eagle Hills; and Omar Abdullah Al Futtaim, Vice Chairman and CEO of Al-Futtaim Real Estate Group.
The deal was signed by Ahmad Thani Al Matrooshi, Executive Director at Emaar Properties, and Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency.
Dubai’s Smart City Ambitions
Al Tayer described the initiative as a direct reflection of Dubai’s strategy to become the “smartest city in the world” while reinforcing its position as a global testbed for autonomous transport technologies.
“The signing of these agreements underscores RTA’s commitment to supporting innovative solutions and adopting the latest international technologies that advance sustainable and smart mobility across Dubai,” Al Tayer said.
The Autonomous Transport Zone
Covering 12 square kilometres, the new zone will integrate multiple modes of futuristic transport, including:
- 20 km of dedicated roads served by self-driving Robobuses and Roboshuttles
- 10 km of waterways operated by autonomous Roboboats
- 3.8 km of pathways enabled for delivery robots
Dubai Festival City, Creek Harbour, and Al Jaddaf will become the first operational hubs for robotaxi services, driverless shuttle buses, autonomous abras, and delivery robots.
Toward a Driverless Future
Dubai has set a bold target for the future of its mobility sector: 25 per cent of all trips in the city to be driverless by 2030. These new partnerships represent another significant step in achieving that goal while cementing Dubai’s reputation as a regional and global hub for next-generation transport solutions.
