Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that five consortiums and a leading company have reached the final stage of the 4th Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport 2025.
The challenge, themed “Dubai Autonomous Transport Zone,” encourages participants to design a model district integrating diverse transport modes to enhance resident mobility and set global standards for autonomous transport. The winners will be revealed at the Dubai World Congress and Challenge for Self-Driving Transport in September 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The global judging panel, chaired by self-driving transport expert Dr. Steven Shladover, selected finalists including the WeRide/Deutsche Bahn consortium (UAE, Germany, China); BrightDrive/eVersum/Shiptec/SeaBubbles consortium (Switzerland, France, UAE, Austria); Orcauboat/PIXMOVING/Heriot-Watt University Dubai consortium (UAE, China); SURAA/Arti consortium (Austria); and Singapore-based Zelos. Field tests will now take place at the finalists’ premises, adhering to stringent standards.
Mattar Al Tayer, RTA’s Director General, emphasized the event’s significance as a global platform for innovation in self-driving technologies. He highlighted remarkable participation in the 2025 challenge, exceeding submission targets by 170%.
“The challenge aims to address key issues such as first and last-mile connectivity, traffic congestion, and public transport underutilization, while advancing Dubai’s self-driving strategy,”
said Al Tayer. He added that the initiative aligns with Dubai’s D33 Agenda to position the city as a global economic leader.
Participants were evaluated on technical expertise, commercial viability, and innovative service operations, ensuring their solutions align with Dubai’s vision for smart mobility.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
