Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has conducted field evaluations in China as part of the 4th Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport 2025, which offers a total prize of USD $3 million. The RTA technical team visited Guangzhou, Xi’an, Guiyang, and Suzhou to observe real-world testing of self-driving technologies submitted by competing consortia.
The visit had four main objectives:
- To carry out technical and operational assessments of autonomous vehicles based on challenge criteria and international safety standards.
- To evaluate each company’s technology and readiness through direct observation.
- To inspect operational environments, including factories and control centres, and establish potential strategic partnerships.
- To define the next phase of the Challenge by reviewing test results and deployment readiness for Dubai.
Five autonomous vehicle types were tested: a Robotaxi, two Robobuses, a Roboboat, and an autonomous logistics vehicle. RTA developed a structured methodology for the trials, which were divided into three categories:
- Standstill Tests: These assessed safety systems, sensor coverage, emergency response features, and mobile application integration while vehicles remained stationary.
- Mixed Traffic Tests: Conducted on public roads and port environments, these examined real-time functions such as speed adjustment, traffic signal handling, and navigation.
- Dedicated Tests: Focused on controlled scenarios like pedestrian interaction, start-stop capability, and remote operation features.
The evaluations were led by RTA’s nine-member technical team and advisory jury, in collaboration with consultants FEV and Arthur D. Little.
This initiative is part of the build-up to the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport, scheduled for 24–25 September 2025. The event will bring together global experts in mobility and autonomy, aligning with Dubai’s target of transforming 25% of all city trips into autonomous journeys by 2030.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
