RTA Unveils Region’s Smartest Autonomous Mobility Testing Ground at Dubai Silicon Oasis

In line with the directives of the wise leadership to accelerate the adoption of autonomous mobility technologies and strengthen Dubai's readiness for future mobility solutions, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in collaboration with the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), has inaugurated Dubai Mobility Labs — the smartest integrated ground-testing of its kind in the Middle East, dedicated to testing autonomous and future mobility technologies.

The project reflects the leadership's vision to position Dubai as a global hub for developing, testing and certifying the latest mobility systems, while providing a pioneering environment that attracts companies, developers, research institutions and specialised talent. It also contributes to accelerating the transition of innovative technologies from development and testing to real-world and commercial deployment.

Dubai Mobility Labs supports the objectives of the Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to convert 25% of all mobility journeys in the emirate into autonomous trips by 2030. The project marks a strategic step towards reinforcing Dubai's global leadership in future mobility and building a safer, smarter and more sustainable mobility ecosystem — one that enhances quality of life and strengthens the emirate's competitiveness and future readiness.

Integrated Testing Ecosystem
The Dubai Mobility Labs is in Dubai Silicon Oasis, the specialised economic zone for Knowledge & Innovation under DIEZ. The facility combines dedicated test tracks with a multi-purpose area that provides a controlled environment simulating a wide range of traffic scenarios, alongside real-world testing on public roads extending from Dubai Silicon Oasis to Al Qudra.

This integration allows autonomous vehicles to be assessed under diverse operating conditions and their ability to respond to changing traffic and environmental conditions to be tested against the highest standards of safety and reliability. It provides a comprehensive ecosystem for testing, validation and certification, helping accelerate technology development ahead of deployment on the road network.

The testing ecosystem encompasses 248 test scenarios across controlled environments and public roads. The multi-purpose area alone supports 195 scenarios: 143 built into its core design and a further 52 added through design enhancements that raised the proving ground's readiness and efficiency and broadened the range of operational scenarios it can simulate.

These scenarios cover a wide range of traffic situations encountered by autonomous vehicles in urban environments, enabling the assessment of sensing and decision-making systems, interactions with road users, and responses to changing surrounding conditions. They also allow vehicle readiness to be verified before vehicles progress to testing and operation on public roads.

The multi-purpose area includes a variety of test tracks and traffic features, alongside office and support facilities. It also houses three supporting light-industrial units equipped for operations and indoor installations, as well as three 60 kW electric vehicle chargers — meeting the technical and operational requirements of companies and entities taking part in testing activities.

Infrastructure for the Future
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said: “The inauguration of Dubai Mobility Labs is a practical manifestation of the directives of the wise leadership to reinforce Dubai's leadership in developing and adopting future technologies and consolidate its position as a global model for smart and autonomous mobility. As the smartest integrated ground-testing of its kind in the region, the project provides strategic infrastructure for testing the latest mobility technologies and systems in controlled and real-world environments, and for verifying their safety, efficiency and readiness before deployment on public roads.”

He added: “Dubai Mobility Labs is one of the key pillars supporting Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to convert 25% of all mobility journeys in the emirate into autonomous trips by 2030. It offers an integrated pathway for developing, testing, validating and certifying technologies, helping accelerate a safe, orderly transition from trials to real-world and commercial deployment, while supporting the readiness of Dubai's infrastructure and its regulatory and technical ecosystem to accommodate next-generation mobility solutions.”

Al Tayer stressed that the project's strategic importance extends well beyond establishing a specialised ground-testing: it is about building an integrated global ecosystem for innovation and development that brings together vehicle manufacturers, technology developers, start-ups, research institutions and regulatory authorities. The project will help position Dubai as a global hub for testing the latest mobility systems and as a preferred international destination for companies seeking to develop, test and launch their technologies from Dubai into regional and global markets.

It will also help attract investment, specialised talent and expertise, strengthen the knowledge- and innovation-based economy, and reinforce Dubai's position as an open urban laboratory for designing, developing and deploying the future of mobility.

Al Tayer explained that integrating controlled testing environments with operational trials on public roads gives companies and developers the ability to evaluate their technologies under diverse, real-world conditions, raises the reliability of test results, and speeds up development and certification. This, in turn, supports safer, smarter and more sustainable mobility solutions, a more efficient transport system, smoother traffic flow, and a better quality of life for residents and visitors.

Innovation-Driven Economy
His Excellency Dr Mohammed Al Zarooni, Executive Chairman of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), said: “Dubai Mobility Labs embodies the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to build a globally competitive, knowledge- and innovation-driven economy and strengthen Dubai’s position as a hub for industries shaping the future, by providing an integrated environment that enables global innovators to develop and test autonomous mobility technologies.”

He added: “Through initiatives of this kind, the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority continues to support the growth of future sectors, attract global investment and talent, and strengthen a knowledge- and innovation-driven economic ecosystem. Dubai Silicon Oasis provides an integrated environment for developing and testing advanced technological solutions, supported by smart infrastructure and a comprehensive ecosystem that helps accelerate the development of autonomous mobility technologies and their transition from testing to deployment and operation.”

Real-World Testing
The Dubai Mobility Labs has hosted successful trials of autonomous driving technologies and vehicles developed by global companies, including WeRide, Pony.ai and Tesla — demonstrating the readiness of its facilities to accommodate a wide range of future mobility technologies and to accelerate their assessment and validation ahead of safe operation on Dubai's road network.
RTA appointed DEKRA to operate the Dubai Mobility Labs for the first three years, with responsibility for managing day-to-day operations, organising testing, overseeing the facilities, and ensuring compliance with international safety standards and operational best practices. This strengthens the reliability of test results and reinforces the Labs' international standing.

Dubai Mobility Labs also opens new avenues for partnership between government entities, the private sector, and academic and research institutions. It provides an ecosystem that supports innovation, development, investment and commercial application — helping position Dubai as a global hub for future mobility testing, an international reference point for testing and certifying autonomous mobility technologies, and a platform from which the latest solutions can be launched to cities across the region and the world.