This fully electric, self-driving transit system will carry 300 passengers along virtual tracks to unlock city mobility.
Dubai is taking one giant step forward in addressing its traffic congestion with the launch of the Trackless Tram. Officially called Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART), this is not merely a new bus—it’s a sophisticated public transport system that promises to ease the congested daily traffic ordeal. The ART can combine the speed and high people volume of a traditional tram with the route flexibility of a bus. Above all, it does so with the vastness of expense and time required to install one physical track on the earth. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is leading this way as one of the columns of its vision for a smart, high-tech city.
What makes the ART cars so revolutionary is their technology. In contrast to locked-to-steel tracks, the trackless trams operate on common roads but under the command of a digital map named “virtual tracks.” Due to this incredible freedom, achievable through a masterful mix of Artificial Intelligence (AI), high-precision GPS, optical navigation, and LiDAR technology. This integrated system is the mind of the tram, allowing it to drive itself on painted tracks on specially reserved roads while looking over the highway all the time to spot and react to real-time challenges. The result is a high-capacity, unproblematic ride capable of outsmarting the typical wait and chaos of ordinary traffic flows.
Designed with an intent of carrying major crowds efficiently, each trackless unit is a capacity monster. It has a top of three articulated carriages, and each can carry a maximum of 300 passengers on one trip. It is also quick with a top speed of 70 km/h, which will reduce commute times between large urban corridors significantly. When it comes to sustainability, the tram is an emerald treat: 100% electric, zero emissions whatsoever, and an impressive 100 km range on a single battery.
The absolute impossibility of fixed rail infrastructure provides one of the greatest advantages of the system: speed and cost. The ART system can be installed in as many as eight planned locations in mere months—not years, the time that traditional rail projects take—and at a fraction of the cost. This makes the Trackless Tram a strategic, quick-to-deploy solution with a vision to relieve crowded roads and propel Dubai towards its ambitious target: making 25% of all transport trips smart, driverless by 2030. By providing residents and visitors with a fast, effective, and eco-friendly option to their cars, the RTA is solidifying Dubai’s position as a global pioneer in innovative urban mobility.
