As cities around the world embrace emerging technologies to redefine urban mobility, Dubai is accelerating its push toward a driverless future. With autonomous transport set to play a major role in smart city development, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is forging global partnerships to bring innovations to the emirate.

The RTA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pony.ai, a leading autonomous driving technology firm, to launch pilot trials of self-driving vehicles in Dubai. These trials are expected to begin later this year, with plans to roll out a fully driverless commercial fleet by 2026.

Pony.ai recently introduced its seventh generation of autonomous vehicles, developed in collaboration with top manufacturers including Toyota, GAC, and BAIC. The vehicles are powered by advanced AI and equipped with a comprehensive suite of sensors, including lidars, radars, and cameras, to ensure safe navigation in diverse road and weather conditions.

The company also partners with tech giants like Tencent and Alibaba, integrating its robotaxi services into super apps and eWallets such as WeChat and Alipay, boosting accessibility and user engagement.

The MoU was signed by Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency, and Ann Shi, Pony.ai’s Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. Mattar Al Tayer, RTA Director General and Chairman, and Dr. Leo Wang, Pony.ai CFO, attended the ceremony.

Al Tayer said: “RTA’s continued expansion of partnerships with leading global companies in the field of autonomous mobility marks a key step towards achieving the Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to convert 25% of all trips in Dubai into autonomous journeys across various modes of transport by 2030.”

“Autonomous mobility has become a present reality,” he added.

Dr. Leo Wang described the partnership as a shared “commitment to deploying Level 4 autonomous technology in strategic global markets,” emphasizing Dubai’s role as a key destination for innovation in mobility.