Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited the Roads and Transport Authority to review three specialised projects designed to advance the emirate's transport infrastructure, with a focus on emergency response, digital transformation and sustainable mobility.
Briefed by RTA Director-General Mattar Al Tayer, Sheikh Hamdan assessed a rapid intervention vehicle built to manage flooding and water emergencies. The vehicle carries four pumps with a combined capacity of around 60,000 litres per minute and can operate in water depths of up to 1.8 metres. It also includes a rescue boat, thermal drone and backup generator. According to the RTA, the vehicle cuts emergency response times for water-related incidents by more than 75%.
Sheikh Hamdan also reviewed a smart bus station on Sheikh Zayed Road in Al Barsha 2, near Mall of the Emirates. Now 90% complete, the station is set to be fully operational by the end of this month. It features fully contactless digital services, solar panels, AI-powered cameras for crowd management and violation detection, and smart air quality sensors. The station has achieved LEED Platinum certification.
The third initiative, soft mobility parking facilities for bicycles and electric scooters, targets first and last-mile connectivity across the city. Designed with shade, charging capability and smart usage monitoring, the facilities will begin pilot operations at five locations in July 2026, ahead of permanent rollout in 2028. Bicycle trips across Dubai reached 57.6 million in 2025, a 23% increase year on year.
Sheikh Hamdan was accompanied by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum during the visit, which the leadership described as part of its ongoing commitment to direct oversight of strategic government projects.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
