Driverless cars will soon be a reality in Dubai, as Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Cruise, a leading self-driving technology company, have officially initiated trials of autonomous vehicles on the Chevrolet Bolt model in the Jumeirah 1 area. The RTA announced this development on social media and emphasised that testing Cruise's autonomous technology, with a safety driver onboard, is the positive outcome of collaborative work between RTA and Cruise. It follows their successful data collection and testing on closed test tracks.
Not only in the UAE, Cruise has also been running driverless ride-hail service in the USA since February 2022. During a recent visit to San Francisco, RTA's technical team had the opportunity to experience rides with Cruise, thereby reaffirming their trust in Cruise's advanced technology.
The trial marks a significant step toward achieving RTA's strategic goals, which include successfully establishing the first autonomous transportation system in the MENA region. It also strengthens Dubai's position as a pioneer in autonomous technology within the region and enhances its global leadership in the field of autonomous mobility. This effort, which requires investment in smart mobility and advanced technologies, is in line with RTA's dedication to ensuring the well-being and safety of Dubai's residents, tourists, and visitors, ultimately contributing to the city's aspiration to be the world's smartest city.
According to RTA, Cruise will validate autonomous driving safety and performance of Cruise AVs in Dubai and the compatibility of the AV’s requirements on the digital and physical infrastructure for the target area of operation in Jumeirah 1.
Additionally, the team will focus on assessing the performance of Cruise's autonomous technology during tests and demonstrations, highlighting the maturity of Cruise's vehicles, particularly in challenging traffic scenarios in Dubai. In the initial phases of the road tests for Cruise autonomous vehicles in Dubai, a safety driver will be present behind the wheel.
All these tireless efforts are in line with achieving the Vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to convert 25% of trips to be autonomous by 2030.