Driverless taxis to be launched in Dubai on October 14

The region's first driverless taxi will be piloted during the Gitex Technology Week that starts in Dubai tomorrow. The Roads and Transport Authority's (RTA) autonomous taxis would help ferry Dubai Metro and tram passengers to their final destinations.

The vehicle, which will be tentatively run on dedicated routes at the Dubai Silicon Oasis, has top safety and security standards, the RTA said.

It is equipped with cameras and sensors that fully view traffic and road conditions, control the vehicle and avoid collision.

"The autonomous taxi contributes towards the integration of mass transport systems by facilitating the movement of public transport users, specifically



Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram, to reach their final destinations (last mile)," said Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA.

The RTA designed the autonomous taxi in partnership with the Dubai Silicon Oasis and DG World for robots and artificial applications. It is in implementation of the Dubai smart self-driving mobility strategy that aims to transform 25 per cent of the emirate's total journeys into self-driving transit means by 2030.

The authority will showcase other cutting-edge technology at Gitex, including robot cleaners for Dubai Metro stations, 3D-printed Metro spare parts and airtifical intelligence-powered automated chat bot system.