Dubai RTA collaborates with Chinese technology leaders to accelerate AI-powered smart mobility.
Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has strengthened its strategic partnerships with leading Chinese companies and institutions to leverage their expertise in artificial intelligence, digital transformation, advanced transport technologies, and innovative approaches to bridge and tunnel design and construction.
The partnerships will support the delivery of RTA’s current and future projects while enhancing the readiness of Dubai’s transport network to meet the demands of the emirate’s rapid urban and economic growth.
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This follows an official visit to the People’s Republic of China by an RTA delegation led by Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
2 MOUs signed
The visit was organised in coordination with the Dubai International Chamber’s representative office in Shanghai.
The RTA delegation, led by Mattar Al Tayer, included chief executive officers, directors and young engineers from across the authority’s agencies and sectors.
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During the visit, RTA signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with leading Chinese entities. The visit was organised in coordination with the Dubai International Chamber’s representative office in Shanghai.
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Two MoUs signed
During the visit, RTA signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with CASCO SIGNAL LTD. and Huawei Technologies to deepen cooperation in advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, smart transport systems and rail. The agreements also pave the way for sharing Chinese best practices in transport infrastructure development and the deployment of modern mobility management and operations technologies.
Advanced R&D centre
Under the MoU with CASCO SIGNAL LTD., a specialist in signalling, communications and control systems for metro and rail networks, an advanced research and development (R&D) centre and innovation laboratory will be established in Dubai. The facility will support the Dubai Metro Blue Line project as well as future metro developments.
The centre will provide an integrated platform for system testing, functional verification and training, while supporting the integration of signalling, communications, control and operational systems.
The centre will enable technical testing in an environment that closely simulates real-world operating conditions, enhancing the project’s readiness ahead of service launch.
The laboratory will also serve as an advanced platform in Dubai for local acceptance testing and technical verification, while supporting the development and modernisation of existing and future metro lines.
Specialised research
The facility will conduct specialised research in smart operations and maintenance, as well as AI-driven operational scheduling, to enhance asset management and improve the operational efficiency of Dubai’s metro network.
The establishment of the centre marks a strategic step in strengthening Dubai’s position as a regional hub for innovation in rail and public transport.
It will also support the development and testing of next-generation metro technologies, facilitate knowledge transfer, and build specialised expertise in the sector.
Meanwhile, the MoU with Huawei Technologies, a global leader in information and communications technology (ICT), aims to strengthen strategic cooperation in emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, networking systems, mobility and traffic management, and future transport solutions.
The agreement also provides for the exchange of technical expertise, the organisation of joint workshops, the implementation of proof-of-concept trials, and the testing and validation of advanced technology solutions.
The areas of cooperation also include the development of smart city and AI applications supporting the Dubai 20-Minute City vision, the creation of unified data platforms integrating multiple transport systems, and the deployment of AI-powered technologies for real-time incident detection and response.
The agreement further covers the development of smart operations and control centres, as well as enhancements to digital infrastructure and redundant data centres to strengthen business continuity and improve operational efficiency.
It also explores opportunities to leverage China’s expertise in operating and managing smart metro systems, developing AI-enabled monitoring and control solutions, and enhancing station and public transport management.
These initiatives are expected to improve customer experience while boosting operational efficiency and sustainability across RTA’s transport network.
Public transport, rail and AI
Mattar Al Tayer said the visit reflects RTA’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships with leading global companies and institutions and benefiting from global best practices in public transport, rail, digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
Al Tayer said the partnerships support Dubai’s future ambitions and reinforce its position as a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility.
“China is a global leader in the development of transport and rail infrastructure, digital technologies and artificial intelligence. Over the past decades, it has built integrated systems that combine innovation, advanced technology and operational efficiency,” he said.
“Through this visit, RTA aims to gain first-hand insight into these successful experiences, explore new opportunities for cooperation and knowledge exchange, and adopt global best practices that support the continued development of Dubai’s transport system while keeping pace with the emirate’s rapid urban and economic growth.”
Long-term strategic partnerships
“RTA is also working to build long-term strategic partnerships with leading Chinese companies and leverage their advanced expertise in delivering major infrastructure and transport projects, while adopting the latest technologies and innovative solutions that support RTA’s future projects in line with the highest standards of efficiency, quality and sustainability,” Al Tayer said.
He added that the two MoUs signed during the visit reflect RTA’s direction towards expanding the use of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence across its operations, strengthening the digital infrastructure supporting the transport sector, and advancing future rail and metro projects.
“These efforts will help improve operational efficiency, enhance service quality, elevate customer experience, and reinforce Dubai’s leadership in smart mobility,” he said.
The RTA delegation also held a series of intensive meetings and field visits with leading Chinese government entities, institutions, and companies specialising in transport, infrastructure, urban planning, artificial intelligence, rail, and smart mobility.
Cooperation
The programme aimed to strengthen cooperation, exchange expertise, explore future partnership opportunities, and increase the participation of major Chinese companies in delivering RTA’s strategic projects in the next phase.
It also enabled the delegation to review China’s advanced experience in operating and managing public transport and rail systems, as well as applications of artificial intelligence in the sector.
The delegation further examined Shanghai’s integrated transport management and operations system in a city of more than 24 million residents.
The delegation also visited the Command and Control Centre of the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission (SMTC), where it was briefed on coordination mechanisms across multiple transport modes, including roads, metro, buses, taxis, airports, freight, and traffic management. The visit highlighted best practices in operating and managing mobility systems in major global cities.
At the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, the delegation learned about China’s advanced transport planning practices for major cities, including the application of the 15-minute city concept, which aims to enhance quality of life and reduce reliance on private vehicles.
The visit also provided insights into integrated transport systems that contribute to improving the sustainability of urban mobility.
Shanghai Maglev ride experience
The visit also included the Shanghai Maglev ride experience, one of the world’s fastest commercial train services.
The delegation was briefed on the advanced technologies used in its operation and management, as well as its high performance efficiency, supporting RTA’s efforts to anticipate the future of public transport and rail systems.
The delegation further visited several major road, bridge, and tunnel projects to review the latest design and construction methodologies, along with the technologies deployed in infrastructure development.
The visits aimed to draw on global expertise in delivering tunnel and bridge projects, in support of RTA’s current and future initiatives in this field.
The delegation was also briefed on the Hongqiao Integrated Transport Hub, one of the world’s leading models for connecting multiple transport modes. The visit provided insights into best practices in multimodal hub design and surrounding urban development, contributing to improved mobility efficiency and enhanced quality of life.
The programme further included visits to several leading companies and institutions specialising in rail and metro systems, autonomous driving, and artificial intelligence.
The delegation reviewed the latest solutions and applications in metro network operations and maintenance, smart control systems, predictive maintenance, autonomous vehicles, and smart logistics, supporting RTA’s plans to deploy advanced technologies in developing Dubai’s transport and mobility ecosystem.
