HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has announced that the 5th edition of the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport in 2027 will focus on the theme Smart Integrated Infrastructure.
The competition will task participating companies with carefully designing and developing advanced systems that seamlessly integrate sensors, connectivity, and data analytics with the goal of enhancing overall efficiency, strengthening sustainability, and improving the performance and reliability of urban environments and public services.
The announcement came at the conclusion of the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport 2025, hosted at the Dubai World Trade Centre, an event that drew over 3,000 participants and showcased more than 80 speakers, including senior officials, industry experts, and leading technology developers.
During the Dubai World congress, RTA entered into four agreements with Emaar Properties, Al-Futtaim Group, as well as the winners of the 2025 challenge, the WeRide and Deutsche Bahn consortium, and Zelos Technology. These agreements focus on showcasing and testing self-driving technologies at Festival City, Creek Harbour, and various other locations across Dubai.
Al Tayer stated that the agreements underscore Dubai’s vision of becoming the world’s smartest city and a global hub for testing next-generation mobility solutions. He noted that investment in self-driving transport is not only crucial to advancing digital transformation but also instrumental in delivering services that raise the overall quality of life and enhance customer satisfaction.
The RTA Chairman added that the adoption of these technologies contributes to improved road safety and supports efforts to reduce reliance on private vehicles, reinforcing Dubai’s commitment to building a sustainable, connected, and innovation-driven urban environment.
