DUBAI: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has showcased a new driverless electric pod system that aims to enrich the last-mile mobility by connecting metro stations with all other parts across four locations in the city.
The driverless system, created by California mobility company Glydways, showcased a prototype at the World Government Summit (WGS) 2026. The project is part of Dubai’s wider drive to develop smart and sustainable solutions for urban transportation.
The pods will service narrow, dedicated guideways in a bid to avoid interfering with current traffic, RTA said. The system is set to be rolled out within Bluewaters Island, Umm Suqeim, Al Quoz, and Dubai Festival City, with a focus on connecting the metro stations to residential, commercial, and entertainment destinations. No timetable for how the changes will be implemented was given.
The pilot project will be the Bluewaters Island route, which is 2.8 km long, running between National Paints Metro Station and Bluewaters Island. The Umm Suqeim line will be 1.9km long, connecting the Mall of the Emirates Metro Station with Madinat Jumeirah. All Quoz routes will comprise a 2.6km line from the OnPassive Metro Station to Alserkal Avenue and Times Square Centre. The longest line, 7km long, will connect Dubai Festival City, where it can potentially integrate with the Dubai Metro’s Blue Line.
The enclosed electric pod accommodates four to six passengers and can travel at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour, covering a distance of up to 250 kilometers between charges. The structure is designed to accommodate more than 10,000 people per hour , each way.
Glydways said the pods run in guideways as wide as a bike lane and could be built above ground or underground at far lower capital and operating costs than typical transportation systems. The company has been working with authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to explore wider deployment of its autonomous transport technology.
