Dubai RTA's AI strategy to reduce travel times by 30%

Dubai RTA targets AI-led transformation by 2030 with 81 new AI projects

#UAE #corporatestrategy – Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched its Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2030, announcing 81 projects and initiatives to accelerate AI adoption across its operations. The strategy, unveiled during Dubai AI Week 2025, aims to reduce travel times by up to 30%, increase productivity by 40%, and cut operational costs by 20%. Building on over 40 AI use cases implemented since 2017, the RTA strategy aligns with federal and local goals to make Dubai a leader in AI-powered transport.

SO WHAT? – The Dubai RTA’s new AI Strategy not only positions the authority as as a national leader, but a could make it a global model for smart mobility. The planned initiatives follow years of digital transformation efforts, embracing the latest technology and piloting new use cases for AI. The new strategy combines infrastructure, governance, and technology to deliver tangible gains in efficiency, sustainability, and public satisfaction. In 2025, a comprehensive AI strategy is essential to operate, support and improve urban mobility in one of the world’s fastest-paced and fastest-growing cities.

Some key points about the RTA AI strategy announcement:

• Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announcd its Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2030 at Dubai AI Week 2025, announcing 81 projects and initiatives to accelerate AI adoption across its operations.

• The updated strategy aims to deliver across six pillars:

  • people happiness

  • smart mobility

  • intelligent traffic

  • cognitive licensing

  • future-readiness

  • asset excellence.

• The authority targets a 20–30% reduction in travel times by using AI to optimise traffic signals and pedestrian flows.

• Employee productivity is expected to rise 25–40% through AI-powered tools and automation across departments.

• Cost savings of 10–20% are projected via predictive maintenance, AI-led driver assessments, and asset management platforms.

• Since 2017, RTA has deployed over 40 AI and big data use cases, such as predictive bus maintenance and passenger sentiment analysis.

• A further 45 use cases are in development, including energy optimisation for the Dubai Metro and bus network enhancements.

• The RTA’s Big Data Platform now manages 670 terabytes of data, integrated with 49 systems and supporting 280+ data points.

• RTA’s AI efforts include the chatbot ‘Mahboub’, one of the largest enterprise bots in the region, now integrated with generative AI.

• RTA has received multiple awards for AI and big data, including recognition from Digital Dubai, SAS UAE, and Innovation AI.

• The strategy aligns with the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2031 and complements the RTA’s Digital Strategy 2030.

ZOOM OUT – Dubai RTA is already an intensive user of artificial intelligence across much of its operations from finance and administration, to customer service, to traffic management, through to new forms of autonomous transport. RTA is laying essential digital groundwork for Dubai’s ambitious 2040 Masterplan, which places people-centric development at its core. The authority aims to harness AI to make the city the easiest to get around with AI-supported customer service, predictive traffic management, and advanced urban mobility.

[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]

Read more about RTA activities:

• Nota AI secures key Dubai Edge AI transport deal (Middle East AI News)

• RTA, Uber & WeRide partner to create robotaxi services (Middle East AI News)

• Baidu's Apollo Go to expand robotaxi services to UAE (Middle East AI News)

• Digital twin takes traffic signals to next level in Dubai (Middle East AI News)