Dubai Launches Advanced Mobility Labs To Accelerate Autonomous Travel As Driverless Vehicles Move Closer To Roads

Located in Dubai Silicon Oasis, the Dubai Mobility Labs was opened by the Government of Dubai on September 27, 2026. This is the first center of its kind to test and validate autonomous vehicles within the UAE. The center is built by the Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority in partnership with the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority. The center will accelerate the testing of autonomous vehicles to achieve the target of the emirate of Dubai to provide 25% of all mobility journeys to be fully autonomous by the year 2030.

The Mobility Labs is the first dedicated facility to test and validate autonomous vehicles in the UAE. The facility allows manufacturers and research entities to test autonomous vehicles to international standards. The facility is designed to facilitate the entire process from research to development and testing of autonomous vehicles. The core facility is backed by other intgress to real UAE roads to help further test and commercially validate the vehicles.

Dubai Mobility Labs Creates A New Era For Autonomous Transport Testing

Dubai Mobility Labs has been established as an advanced ground-testing ecosystem for autonomous and future mobility technologies. Located in Dubai Silicon Oasis, the facility combines specialised testing infrastructure with real-world assessment routes, giving developers the ability to examine how driverless vehicles perform in different environments.

Unlike traditional vehicle testing, autonomous transport requires detailed evaluation of artificial intelligence systems that control navigation, obstacle detection and decision-making. Self-driving vehicles must understand complex urban situations, including traffic movements, pedestrian activity, changing road conditions and unexpected obstacles.

The new centre provides a controlled environment where these technologies can be tested safely before entering Dubai’s busy roads. It allows engineers to identify technical challenges, improve vehicle responses and confirm that autonomous systems meet safety requirements. The facility also strengthens Dubai’s ambition to become a global centre for future mobility innovation by attracting technology companies and supporting research into next-generation transportation solutions.

Advanced Facility Tests Vehicles Across 248 Different Driving Scenarios

One of the most important features of Dubai Mobility Labs is its ability to evaluate autonomous vehicles across 248 testing scenarios. These scenarios are designed to examine how vehicles respond to different traffic, environmental and operational conditions.

The testing programme focuses on:

The testing environment allows vehicles to experience situations that may occur during daily operations, including changing traffic patterns, unexpected road events and interaction with other road users. The goal is to ensure autonomous vehicles can safely sense their surroundings, process information and make appropriate decisions before they begin carrying passengers on a larger scale.

Controlled Tracks Combined With Real Dubai Road Testing

Dubai Mobility Labs does not rely only on closed testing areas. The facility also supports real-world trials on public roads extending from Dubai Silicon Oasis to Al Qudra. This combination provides developers with two important testing stages.

Controlled testing environment

Inside the facility, companies can safely examine:

• Vehicle software performance
• Artificial intelligence systems
• Sensor accuracy
• Automated driving functions
• Emergency response capability

Real-world road assessment

Public-road testing allows developers to understand how autonomous vehicles perform in genuine urban conditions, where traffic movement, road users and environmental factors are less predictable. This approach creates a complete pathway from early technology development to commercial operation.

Global Autonomous Vehicle Companies Already Tested In Dubai

Dubai Mobility Labs has already hosted successful trials involving autonomous driving technologies and vehicles developed by major international companies.

The companies involved include:

• WeRide
• Pony.ai
• Tesla

The participation of global mobility technology firms highlights Dubai’s growing importance as a testing location for autonomous transport solutions. By providing advanced infrastructure and government support, Dubai is creating an environment where companies can develop, test and improve driverless mobility technologies before expanding their services. The facility is expected to support cooperation between vehicle manufacturers, technology companies, start-ups, research institutions and regulators.

Dubai’s 2030 Autonomous Transport Target Gains New Momentum

Dubai Mobility Labs is a key pillar of the Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to make one-quarter of all mobility journeys autonomous by 2030.

The strategy covers a wide range of future transport services, including:

• Autonomous taxis
• Driverless public transport
• Autonomous delivery vehicles
• Smart mobility solutions

The new testing centre provides the technical foundation needed to support this transformation. Before autonomous vehicles become a common sight on Dubai roads, authorities must ensure that infrastructure, regulations and technology systems can work together effectively. Dubai Mobility Labs helps create this connection by providing testing, verification and certification support.

DEKRA To Manage Dubai Mobility Labs Operations

Dubai RTA has appointed DEKRA, a Germany-based global automotive testing and inspection organisation, to operate Dubai Mobility Labs during its first three years.

DEKRA will manage:

• Daily facility operations
• Testing programmes
• Technical assessments
• Safety compliance procedures
• International standards verification

The partnership is designed to ensure that autonomous vehicle testing follows recognised global practices while maintaining strong safety standards. By involving an experienced automotive testing organisation, Dubai aims to create a reliable framework for companies developing future mobility technologies.

Driverless Taxi Services Expand Dubai’s Smart Travel Vision

The opening of Dubai Mobility Labs comes as Dubai continues expanding its autonomous transport projects. The emirate has already moved towards commercial driverless mobility through autonomous taxi initiatives. Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi service has started operations in Dubai through a partnership involving Uber, with initial deployment planned in areas including Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim. The service uses Baidu’s sixth-generation RT6 robotaxi, with future expansion plans across the emirate.

Dubai also launched commercial operations of self-driving taxi services earlier as part of its wider autonomous transport programme. These developments show that Dubai is moving beyond testing and demonstrations towards practical autonomous mobility services.

Autonomous Vehicles Could Reshape Dubai Tourism Transport

The growth of autonomous mobility could have a major impact on Dubai’s tourism sector. Dubai welcomes millions of international visitors every year, and efficient transportation plays an important role in the visitor experience.

Future autonomous transport services could support travellers through:

• Faster airport transfers
• Easier movement between hotels and attractions
• More flexible city exploration
• Improved accessibility for elderly visitors and travellers with mobility challenges

Driverless vehicles could become an important part of Dubai’s tourism infrastructure, helping visitors move around the city through advanced digital transport solutions.

Dubai Builds A Global Future Mobility Hub

Dubai Mobility Labs further accelerates Dubai’s development of smart transport systems and infrastructure. With the U.A.E’s emphasis on research in the field of intelligent systems and integration of autonomous transport systems, the U.A.E is strategically readying its urban environments to accommodate and integrate self driving vehicles in everyday transport.

The newly opened facility establishes an safe, regulations compliant, corridor to transition autonomous vehicles from research and development and testing to commercial deployment. With their continuous investments in artificial intelligence, and smart, integrating systems, the U.A.E is concretely establishing pathways to realize Dubai’s Strategic Plan 2021 and positioning it as a global Hub for future mobility.