RTA Observes Comprehensive Field Tests For Dubai World Challenge For Self-Driving Transport In China

A technical team from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has conducted extensive field tests on consortia participating in the 4th Edition of the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport 2025. The challenge, with a prize pool of USD $3 million, involved trials across four Chinese cities to assess technologies in real-world road conditions.

Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of the Public Transport Agency and Head of the Organising Committee for the event, explained that the visit aimed to achieve several objectives. These included evaluating self-driving vehicles' performance against international safety standards and understanding each company's technological capabilities through direct observation.

The RTA's technical team developed a specific methodology for testing vehicles in the challenge. Tests were divided into three categories: Standstill Tests, Mixed Traffic Tests, and Dedicated Tests. Each category focused on different aspects such as system performance, real-world traffic handling, and controlled scenario assessments.

Standstill Tests evaluated stationary vehicle systems like sensor coverage and emergency features. Mixed Traffic Tests assessed vehicle performance on public roads, including speed adaptation and traffic signal handling. Dedicated Tests examined specific scenarios like pedestrian interaction and remote operation capabilities.

The technical team visited Guangzhou, Xi’an, Guiyang, and Suzhou to conduct these evaluations. The visits were part of a comprehensive process involving nine RTA members and an advisory jury panel supported by FEV Consulting and Arthur D. Little. This collaboration ensured thorough assessment using precise measurement tools.

Five autonomous vehicles were selected for testing: a Robotaxi, two Robobuses, a Roboboat, and an autonomous logistics vehicle. These vehicles underwent rigorous evaluations under direct monitoring by RTA’s technical team alongside jury panel members.

Strategic Insights and Future Steps

Bahrozyan highlighted that visiting company headquarters provided insights into operational environments and technical support systems. These visits aimed to establish long-term strategic relationships for potential future partnerships in Dubai’s smart mobility initiatives.

The outcomes of these field tests will help define the next steps for deploying participating solutions in Dubai. This aligns with the emirate's goal of transforming 25% of all trips into smart journeys by 2030.

Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport

In parallel with these efforts, RTA is organising the 4th Edition of the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport 2025 under the theme "Redefining Mobility: The Path to Autonomy." Scheduled for 24 to 25 September, this event is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

This congress serves as a global platform bringing together experts in autonomous transport. It aims to accelerate smart mobility transitions by gathering policymakers, technology developers, researchers, and academics specialising in autonomous mobility.

The event supports Dubai’s strategic objective of advancing towards smart self-driving mobility by fostering discussions among leading experts in this field.

With inputs from WAM