Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, the fourth edition of the Dubai World Congress and Challenge for Self-Driving Transport begins on Wednesday, 24 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event is held under the slogan “Redefining Mobility… The Path to Autonomy.”
The Congress will also witness the honouring of winners of the Challenge, organised under the theme “Dubai Autonomous Transport Zone.” Five international and local consortia, along with leading companies, competed to design a model district where diverse mobility modes are integrated seamlessly, offering residents safe, efficient, and high-quality autonomous transport services. The initiative reflects Dubai’s ambition to build a world-class self-driving mobility ecosystem.
Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), welcomed international delegates and emphasised the strategic importance of the event. He described the Congress as a major step in positioning Dubai as a global leader in smart mobility, aligned with the emirate’s Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which targets converting 25% of all trips into self-driving journeys by 2030.
The two-day Congress is set to attract over 3,000 international participants, 80 speakers, and more than 45 workshops and seminars. Keynote speakers include Saeed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, Sol Rashidi, the world’s first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, as well as leading global experts such as Dr Steven Shladover of UC Berkeley, Augustin Friedel of Porsche’s MHP, and Daan Roosegaarde, innovator and founder of Studio Roosegaarde.
Alongside the Congress, an exhibition featuring 50+ leading companies will showcase the latest in autonomous and sustainable mobility. Exhibitors include Baidu Apollo, Pony.ai, Uber, DEWA, and others. Visitors will also experience self-driving vehicles set for deployment in Dubai by 2026.
The Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport received applications exceeding its target by 170%, with five finalists reaching the final stage. These include international consortia such as WeRide/Deutsche Bahn, BrightDrive/AlpLab/Shiptec/SeaBubbles, Orcauboat/PIKMOVING/Heriot-Watt University Dubai, and SURAA/Arti, along with Zelos Technology from Singapore and China. Winners will be announced on the opening day after rigorous technical evaluations and field trials.
The Challenge aims to address first-and-last mile connectivity, traffic congestion, and public transport adoption, encouraging innovative, cost-effective, and safe solutions for future urban mobility.
Closing the announcement, Mattar Al Tayer reaffirmed:
“This global event reflects the vision of our wise leadership to make Dubai the smartest city in the world, enhance sustainability, and drive innovation in mobility. It provides a unique platform to showcase technologies, foster collaboration, and accelerate the global shift towards autonomous transport.”
