UITP Summit: Dubai Shines Spotlight on Self-Driving and Sustainable Transport Innovations

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) actively participated in the 64th edition of the UITP Global Public Transport Summit, held in Barcelona, Spain. The event attracted 1,900 delegates from 100 countries, fostering discussions on urban and sustainable mobility across 85 panels featuring approximately 300 speakers.

Alongside the UITP summit, the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) hosted an arrangement that drew in 15,000 visitors. RTA capitalized on this opportunity to showcase its latest initiatives and projects in public transport and sustainability, with a particular focus on self-driving transportation and smart technology-driven services. Through its dedicated stand, RTA demonstrated the advancements made in these areas.

The biennial summit serves as a major convergence point for transport experts worldwide, offering a platform to present cutting-edge technologies related to infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and sustainability. This year’s theme, “Bright Light of the City,” centered on the goal of achieving seamless and secure transport via incorporated transportation networks.

Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, delivered an opening speech at the UITP summit, graced by the presence of esteemed guests including Her Excellency Raquel Sánchez Jiménez, Spanish Minister for Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agenda, His Excellency Khalid AlHogail, President of UITP, and Her Excellency Ada Colau, Mayor of Barcelona, Spain.

During his address, His Excellency Al Tayer emphasized Dubai’s unwavering dedication to enhancing sustainable and innovative transportation across all modes of public and shared mobility. This commitment highlights Dubai’s proactive approach to adopting cutting-edge solutions to revolutionize the transportation sector.

“Under the visionary guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, and with the dedicated oversight of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, as well as His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance, there is a resolute focus on embracing resilient government operations and fostering a forward-thinking mindset.

This approach ensures that Dubai keeps pace with the rapid global transformations and proactively develops innovative solutions to address a diverse range of challenges. The leadership’s commitment lies in envisioning the future and creating a robust framework that enables the development of sustainable and adaptive solutions for the benefit of all,” Noted Al Tayer.

Ambitious Plans

“Over the course of the past 18 years, the Dubai Government has made a substantial investment of over Euro 37 billion (AED 146 billion) to enhance and upgrade the infrastructure of roads and public transport networks. This significant commitment aims to ensure seamless and sustainable transportation for both residents and visitors in Dubai. The integrated public transport modes serve as the fundamental framework for mobility throughout the city.

Through these efforts, the balance of public and shared transportation has experienced remarkable growth, increasing from 6% in 2006 to an impressive 19.4% in 2022. Looking ahead, the ambitious plan is to further elevate this figure to 25% by the year 2030. Such advancements underscore Dubai’s commitment to promoting efficient and environmentally agreeable transportation options, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being and convenience of individuals moving within the city,” commented Al Tayer.

“The network has successfully instilled a cultural shift among residents across various segments, transforming their attitudes towards utilizing public transport. The strategic and executive plans of the RTA prioritize seamless mobility throughout Dubai, underpinned by a commitment to sustainability. In line with this vision, the RTA aims to convert all mass transit modes into environmentally agreeable prospects with no carbon emissions by 2050.”

“The UITP Global Public Transport Summit plays a crucial role in facilitating discussions and demonstrating the current advancements and sustainable approaches in public transport. It serves as a platform for increasing the utilization of public transport to meet the daily commuting needs of the population. The choice of Barcelona as the host city for this global event is fitting, given its remarkable historical architecture and unique urban planning system. The UITP summit gets together transportation management, leading manufacturers, and specialists to trade details and knowledge that make the future of urban mobility.”

“Dubai’s strong commitment to sustainable and innovative mobility is evident through various ongoing initiatives. One notable example is the environmentally friendly Dubai Metro, the world’s most protracted driverless metro design. Since its establishment in September 2009, it has served over 2 billion passengers, maintaining the highest global safety standards, impressive operational efficiency rates, and an exceptional punctuality rate of 99.7%.”

“Dubai’s ambitions align with the United Nations tolerable growth objectives, especially in reducing carbon emissions, as well as the purposes of the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP28) held by the UAE this year. The Dubai Urban 2040 Plan exemplifies the city’s commitment to sustainable mobility, emphasizing key pillars such as integrated land use, transport planning, the utilization of sustainable transportation methods, and the concept of the 20-minute city, all designed to prioritize the needs of the people,” explained Al Tayer.

Dubai, A Global Leader

“RTA is actively working to enhance Dubai’s pioneering position in the field of self-driving transportation, focusing on innovative mobility solutions. This includes conducting tests of diverse independent vehicles, aerial taxis, and marine transport methods. These efforts align with Dubai’s smart self-driving transport strategy, which aims to transition 25% of total mobility journeys in the city into driverless journeys utilizing diverse transportation options by 2030.

Our enduring partnership with UITP is a source of pride for us. It began with Dubai hosting the 59th World Congress and Exhibition of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) in 2011, marking the first-ever occurrence of the event in the MENA region. This partnership has further strengthened with the installation of the MENA Centre for Transportation Excellence and the successful organization of four UITP MENA Public Transport Congresses. It gives me great satisfaction to spread an invitation for you to join us at the fifth legislature, set to be hosted by Dubai in 2024.” stated Al Tayer.

Strategic Initiatives

RTA made a significant presence at the global UITP summit, sending a delegation comprised of several CEOs and directors. The organization showcased a wide range of strategic initiatives, ambitious plans, and future projects at its extensive stand. Among the highlights was the Digital Twinning of Railways in Dubai Metro, which focused on enhancing infrastructure, improving operational efficiency, and expediting maintenance and decision-making processes. Additionally, RTA unveiled its ‘Zero-Emissions Public Transportation in Dubai 2050’ strategy, setting itself as the foremost government agency in the MENA province to adopt a comprehensive roadmap aiming at public transport and its associated infrastructure.

The exhibition also featured exciting exhibits such as the trial of electric buses and Cruise autonomous vehicles, slated for a December 2023 launch. This groundbreaking move places Dubai at the vanguard as the foremost city beyond the United States to deploy independent vehicles. RTA’s participation and initiatives further solidify Dubai’s position as an international authority in creative transportation resolutions.

Aerial Taxi

At the RTA stand, visitors had the opportunity to explore various groundbreaking projects. One of the highlights was the Aerial Taxi project, a collaboration between RTA, Skyports, and Joby companies. This visionary initiative is set to become functional by 2026, placing Dubai as the world’s foremost city to establish a refined network for sheer take-off and landing. The stand also showcased the Yandex partnership with Talabat, demonstrating the transportation of goods through innovative means, including the use of delivery robots powered by autonomous vehicle technology.

Attendees could also learn about the convenience offered by digital cards accessible through the Nol Pay app, enabling smartphone users in the UAE to utilize them as a payment method across various transit modes. Additionally, the S’hail Smart app was showcased, providing users with a seamless experience for planning their public transport journeys within Dubai. These digital solutions exemplify Dubai’s commitment to utilizing advanced technology to enhance the efficiency and convenience of transportation services.

Inspection Tour

During his visit to the exhibition, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, accompanied by officials, embarked on a tour to familiarize himself with the latest advancements in public buses and smart transport technologies. At the Bluebus stand, he examined the cutting-edge 100% electric-powered buses, showcasing Dubai’s commitment to sustainable transportation solutions. His attention then turned to the Doppelmayr stand, where he gained valuable insights into the innovative and highly secure Automated People Mover (APM) system, widely utilized in airports and urban settings.

Continuing his exploration, His Excellency visited the stands of Keolis-MHI, the esteemed operator of Dubai Metro and Tram, and MTR Corporation Limited. These visits provided him with valuable insights into creative industries associated with railway functions and their integration with retail and residential neighborhoods. The tour also included a stop at the EBUSCO stand, where Al Tayer had the opportunity to witness the unveiling of new electric buses developed by the company, further emphasizing Dubai’s dedication to sustainable and environmentally friendly transport solutions.

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