Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a new autonomous transit system named Glydways at the World Governments Summit 2026. This initiative aims to provide driverless pod services connecting four important city hubs with the Dubai Metro network. The first phase of these operations is expected to begin in the next four months to help reduce road traffic and improve travel efficiency.
Technical Specifications and Performance
The Glydways system uses small electric pods that run on dedicated tracks separate from normal road traffic. This allows the vehicles to move without getting stuck in congestion. The technical details of these pods are mentioned below:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Passenger Capacity | 4 to 6 people per pod |
| Maximum Speed | 50 kilometers per hour |
| System Capacity | 10,000 passengers per hour each way |
| Battery Range | 250 kilometers on a single charge |
Routes Connecting Metro Stations to Key Areas
The project will initially focus on four major routes to bridge the distance between metro stations and final destinations. This last-mile connectivity is a part of Dubai strategy to automate 25 percent of its transport by 2030.
- Bluewater Island: A 2.8km trial route will link the National Paints Metro Station to the island.
- Umm Suqeim: This route will connect the Mall of the Emirates Metro Station with Madinat Jumeirah.
- Al Quoz: A connection will be made from OnPassive Metro Station to Alserkal Avenue and Times Square Centre.
- Dubai Festival City: An internal network will be built with future plans to link with the Metro Blue Line.