Dubai tests driverless pods to close transit gaps

Bluewaters Island visitors took their first look at a new kind of public transport on Saturday, as the Roads and Transport Authority began a four-week trial of small, driverless electric pods. The question behind the test matters directly to everyday commuters: can autonomous vehicles safely and reliably cover the short distances that metro and bus networks often leave uncovered?

Mattar Al Tayer, the RTA’s director general, took the first ride along the designated route at the Dubai Holding retail destination. For the authority, the exercise is framed as a public service test rather than a technology showcase. Mr Al Tayer said the trial reflected the RTA’s commitment to testing advanced technologies within Dubai’s urban environment, with a particular focus on first and last-mile connectivity.

“The trial operation marks an important stage in assessing the system’s operational and technical aspects, evaluating its ability to provide a safe, seamless and reliable mobility experience, and exploring opportunities for integration with the public transport network, particularly for first- and last-mile journeys,” he said.

The system at the centre of the trial is Glydways, an autonomous transit network built around small electric pods that run on dedicated roads, either at ground level or elevated. Each vehicle carries between four and six passengers, travels at up to 50kph and covers up to 250km on a single charge. The pods are fitted with 20 high-resolution Lidar sensors, radar and high-definition cameras.

Capacity figures suggest the network could, if expanded, move large numbers of people without drivers. Up to 10 vehicles can be virtually linked with headways of less than one second, giving the system a combined capacity of more than 20,000 passengers per hour in both directions.

What happens after the trial matters most to the public. Project plans already include a 2.8km route linking National Paints Metro Station with Bluewaters, alongside proposed routes serving Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai Festival City, Business Bay and Mohammed Bin Rashid City. The trial will assess vehicle performance, autonomous driving systems, safety and reliability, as well as passenger experience, generating data to inform decisions on future network expansion across the emirate.

Cost is another factor with consequences for how widely such a service could reach. The system’s developers say capital costs are up to 90 per cent lower and operating costs up to 70 per cent lower than comparable transport modes, a claim that, if borne out, could make extending service to more neighbourhoods easier to justify.

The project is being delivered under a public-private partnership, with the Bluewaters trial implemented in collaboration with Dubai Holding, which is providing infrastructure and operational support. Mark Seeger, founder and co-chief executive of Glydways, said Dubai offered an advanced environment for testing future mobility solutions.

“Through our collaboration with RTA, we look forward to utilising the results of the trial operation to assess the system’s performance and further develop its solutions, supporting Dubai’s aspirations for smart, seamless and sustainable mobility,” he said.

Further details of the launch were reported by The National at https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/10/11/dubais-rta-launches-trial-of-driverless-glydways-electric-pod-network-on-bluewaters-island/

For now, the four weeks of testing on Bluewaters will determine whether residents across Dubai can expect driverless pods to become part of their daily journeys.