Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority is preparing to roll out a new autonomous mobility network later this year, as part of ongoing efforts to ease congestion and expand smart transport options across the emirate.
The system, developed by Glydways, is expected to begin operations with a pilot phase within the next four months, according to Mark Seeger, CEO of Glydways. He was speaking to Gulf News on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit 2026.
“The RTA has already planned four routes, and within the next four months we’ll be launching the first trial route,” Seeger said.
Glydways is a San Francisco-based transportation technology company that develops on-demand, autonomous personal rapid transit networks. The system offers driverless, point-to-point travel designed to reduce pressure on busy urban roads while improving first- and last-mile connectivity.
Four initial locations planned
The first phase of the network is expected to serve four key areas in Dubai, with potential future integration into the upcoming Dubai Metro Blue Line:
- Bluewaters: Trial route linking National Paints Metro Station to Bluewaters Island (2.8km)
- Umm Suqeim: Proposed connection between Mall of the Emirates Metro Station and Madinat Jumeirah (1.9km)
- Al Quoz: Planned corridor from OnPassive to Alserkal Avenue and Times Square Centre (2.6km)
- Dubai Festival City: Internal network within the district, with the possibility of a future Metro Blue Line link (7km)
The autonomous electric vehicles can travel at speeds of up to 50km/h, carry between four and six passengers, and operate for up to 250km on a single charge. According to the company, the system can reduce capital costs by up to 90 per cent and operational costs by around 70 per cent compared to traditional rail-based transit.
On-demand rides at public transport prices
“You hail it like a taxi, but the fare is pegged to the local transit fare system,” Seeger explained. “You get the entire vehicle on demand, with no strangers sharing it, for the same cost as a bus or Metro ticket.”
He added that the model is designed to operate without government subsidies, a key distinction from many public transport systems. “We provide mass transit service at roughly one-tenth the cost of a train system, without ongoing financial support.”
High capacity, smaller footprint
Despite using lanes only about two metres wide — roughly the size of a bicycle path — the Glydways system is capable of moving up to 10,000 passengers per hour per lane. Seeger said this matches the capacity of heavy rail systems while being significantly cheaper to build and operate.
He noted that it is the first time in decades that a transit system can deliver public transport-level pricing without relying on operational subsidies, opening the door for adoption in cities worldwide. More
