Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the 3rd Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport 2023, with a strict focus on self-driving buses.
RTA opened registration for the challenge on Monday, May 30, 2022, through the designated website (www.sdcongress.com). Finalists will be announced in October this year, and the winners will be revealed in October 2023 during the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport 2023. Candidates will compete for prize money amounting to US$2.3m.
The challenge is part of RTA’s ongoing efforts to support the leading role of Dubai in self-driving transport, and its commitment to realizing the government’s vision to transform 25% of total mobility journeys in Dubai into driverless journeys by 2030.
The third edition of the congress is characterized by a new competition format in the field of self-driving buses. It highlights RTA’s commitment to driving the pioneering efforts of the Dubai government and expanding the use of autonomous technologies across the board. Some US$2m has been allocated to leading companies, and US$300,000 has been set aside for local academia.
All local and global firms can make submissions under the leading companies category, provided that the company is registered in the country of origin or locally, and operates in the field of developing or operating self-driving buses. The local academia category includes all universities, institutes and research centers in the UAE interested in autonomous technologies research and engaged in developing related models.