Smart integrated infrastructure set as theme for Dubai World Challenge

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), 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 companies with designing systems that integrate sensors, connectivity and data analytics to enhance efficiency, sustainability and performance in urban and public services.

The announcement was made at the close of the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport 2025, held at Dubai World Trade Centre, which attracted more than 3,000 participants and featured over 80 speakers including senior officials, experts and technology developers.During the congress, RTA signed four agreements with Emaar Properties, Al-Futtaim Group, and the winners of the 2025 challenge - the WeRide and Deutsche Bahn consortium, and Zelos Technology. The agreements cover showcasing and testing self-driving technologies at Festival City, Creek Harbour and other locations in Dubai.

Al Tayer said the agreements reflect Dubai’s vision to position itself as the world’s smartest city and a global testbed for future mobility technologies. “Investment in self-driving transport is a key pillar of digital transformation. It supports advanced services that improve quality of life and customer happiness while enhancing road safety and reducing reliance on private vehicles,” he added.

Meanwhile under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, the fourth edition of the Dubai World Congress and Challenge for Self-Driving Transport will commence on 24th September at the Dubai World Trade Centre under the slogan ‘Redefining Mobility... The Path to Autonomy.’

The event will also feature the honouring of winners of the Challenge, organised under the theme ‘Dubai Autonomous Transport Zone.’ Five international and local consortia, along with leading companies, competed to create a model district that integrates diverse modes of transport within a single area, enabling residents to choose the mobility option best suited to their needs while enjoying high-quality service. The initiative aims to develop a world-class urban model for self-driving mobility.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), welcomed participants and delegates of the Dubai World Congress and Challenge for Self-Driving Transport, expressing his best wishes for a fruitful stay in the UAE and for the Congress to achieve its intended objectives. He emphasised that hosting the Congress and the Challenge marked a significant milestone in Dubai’s journey to lead the future of smart mobility and to reinforce its position as a global hub for innovation in this vital sector.

Al Tayer added, “This global event reflects the vision of the wise leadership to position Dubai as the world’s smartest city and to bolster the sustainability of its mobility ecosystem in ways that enhance community well-being. It also forms part of RTA’s ongoing efforts to implement Dubai’s Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which seeks to transform 25 per cent of all journeys in Dubai into self-driving trips by 2030.

“Through the Congress and the Challenge, RTA aims to attract leading global companies, universities, and specialised research institutions in the field of autonomous mobility to develop innovative solutions that advance Dubai’s transition towards future transport systems founded on advanced technologies, reduced operational costs, and higher levels of road safety. The event also provides a platform to showcase the latest innovations and to encourage knowledge exchange among industry leaders, experts, and decision-makers,” he said.

The two-day Congress will attract more than 3,000 international participants, feature over 45 workshops and seminars, and host more than 80 speakers, including senior officials, researchers, experts, and developers of cutting-edge technologies in the field of self-driving transport.

Among the distinguished keynote speakers is Saeed Al Tayer, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa). Also addressing the Congress is Sol Rashidi, the world’s first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and a former executive at several leading technology start-ups in North America. She will deliver the keynote address at the opening session.

Other notable speakers include Dr Steven Shladover, an international expert in self-driving transport technologies who has led landmark projects at the University of California, Berkeley, for more than 40 years; Augustin Friedel, Associate Partner at MHP – a Porsche company – and a specialist in data analytics, autonomous driving software, and mobility services; and Daan Roosegaarde, renowned innovator and founder of Studio Roosegaarde, a global lecturer and a member of NASA’s Innovation Team.

WAM