Which will operate at eight locations across the emirate…

Following a visit to the RTA headquarters, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister, unveiled plans for the development of an autonomous, eco-friendly “Trackless Tram.”

The transit system is just one of “22 major projects” featuring a Dhs16 billion Main Roads Development Plan 2024-2027.

One-way traffic

Part of the urgency for action stems from a significant rise in the number of vehicles on the road. It’s estimated that during the daytime, Dubai has up to 3.5 million vehicles, with a staggering 10 percent increase over the past two years. While this growth far exceeds the global average for urban areas, Dubai has been effectively managing that traffic, according to the global journey time index.

According to the 2023 TomTom Global Traffic Index, Dubai records an average journey time of 12 minutes and 50 seconds for a 10km commute in the city center. This is significantly lower than nearly 17 minutes in Singapore, 19 minutes in Montreal, 21 minutes in Sydney, 22 minutes in Berlin, and 36 minutes in London.

Super Tram

But what about this autonomous trackless tram?

Here are the key details: it will be launched at eight locations throughout the emirate; each electric tram will feature three carriages with a capacity for 300 passengers; it will run on a virtual guided track system, boasting lower operational costs and an eco-friendly design; its maximum speed will be 70 kph; and it will be highly reliable—the current tram that circles Dubai Marina and beyond has an impressive 99.9 percent punctuality rating.

Taking the scenic route

Other initiatives within the Main Roads Development Plan include the upgrade of Latifa bint Hamdan Street, with construction slated to start next year. This 12km project will extend from Al Khail Road to Emirates Road, boosting road capacity to accommodate approximately 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions and aiming to reduce travel times by 15 to 20 percent.

There’s also the Meydan Road development project, which will enhance capacity to support 22,000 vehicles per hour in both directions. Additionally, the Trade Centre Roundabout will undergo a creative redesign, aiming to cut transit times down to just 90 seconds.