Dubai RTA Announces Road Closures for Autonomous Taxi Testing

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced intermittent closures on sections of Emirates Road (E611) and the Al Maktoum International Airport Tunnel from Monday to Saturday.

The closures will take place daily between 9am and 4pm.

During the scheduled closures, three lanes on E611 opposite Al Maktoum International Airport will be shut to accommodate autonomous taxi testing. The airport tunnel will also be closed in both directions during the same period.

The RTA has advised motorists to plan their journeys in advance, allow extra travel time and follow directional signs to navigate diversions and minimise delays.

The testing programme comes as the UAE prepares to expand its autonomous transport network significantly.

Earlier this month, senior officials announced plans to deploy more than 10,000 autonomous taxis and delivery vans across the country next year, with vehicle fleet orders already finalised.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are accelerating the commercial deployment of driverless transport services as the UAE expands its smart mobility infrastructure.

Autonomous taxi services are already operating in key Dubai areas, including Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, while high-speed testing marks another stage in integrating driverless vehicles into the transport network.

Abu Dhabi has also strengthened its position in autonomous mobility, having become the first city in the MENA region to launch commercial Level 4 driverless services.

Abu Dhabi Mobility has recently expanded autonomous taxi coverage across Yas Island and other key areas, supporting the emirate’s wider driverless transport ambitions.