A top-level team from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has wrapped up a critical round of field evaluations in China, assessing next-generation self-driving technologies set to compete in the 2025 Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport.
The mission, which spanned four major Chinese cities—Guangzhou, Xi’an, Guiyang, and Suzhou—aimed to rigorously test autonomous vehicles including robotaxis, robobuses, autonomous boats, and logistics units. The challenge, now in its fourth edition, features a total prize pool of $3 million and is part of Dubai’s ambitious goal to make 25% of all local journeys smart and driverless by 2030.
Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency and head of the Challenge’s organising committee, said the evaluations were designed to go beyond theory.
“Our team focused on testing the performance, safety features, and technological maturity of a range of autonomous vehicles,” Bahrozyan shared. “This included robotaxis, robobuses, autonomous boats, and a logistics vehicle — all operating under real and simulated conditions.”
The assessments were divided into three key categories: standstill system checks, real-world traffic trials, and controlled scenario simulations. Tests measured everything from blind spot detection and sensor range to how well the vehicles navigated intersections, roundabouts, and pedestrian zones.
The delegation, working closely with global consultants from FEV Consulting and Arthur D. Little, also toured R&D facilities and headquarters of participating companies to explore long-term collaboration opportunities.
“This initiative reflects Dubai’s commitment to being at the forefront of autonomous transport,” Bahrozyan said. “By directly engaging with global innovators, we are not only evaluating the best technologies but also laying the groundwork for future collaboration.”
The Challenge will take place alongside the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport on September 24–25, under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. With the theme “Redefining Mobility: The Path to Autonomy,” the congress will gather international policymakers, researchers, and tech leaders to cement Dubai’s role as a global hub for autonomous mobility.