26 Apr April 26, 2016 HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, says that by 2030, 25 per cent of all transportation trips in Dubai will be smart and driverless, which is part of Dubai’s strategy to become the world’s smartest city and achieve a sustainable economy in the UAE. A 10-seater prototype was rolled out for the start of the three-day MENA Congress of International Union of Public Transport (UITP). This is the first time an autonomous vehicle is on a trial run in Dubai on a pre-programmed route. The vehicles, named EZ10, have been created by a French company EasyMile. Built around a high-tech sensor system, the cars are fitted with a number of safety features in line with traditional automobiles. Sheikh Mohammed also tweeted that the strategy will help improve the efficiency of transportation sector and reduce traffic and pollution, plus save millions of hours spent in transportation. “It is a cooperation between RTA and Dubai Future Association, and it is one of the early projects the association will work on.” The Dubai Government have also launched Dubai global challenge for driverless transportation, the largest global bid for companies and research centres to introduce this technology to Dubai streets. “Dubai introduces an international solo-model for the future city and is turning into the biggest laboratory to develop and improve driverless transportation.”
