Dubai has unveiled driverless pods to connect four key locations with nearby metro stations. This move is aimed at improving the last-mile connectivity and smart mobility infrastructure. The transport authority has also mapped the network for these small, self-driving electric vehicles to operate on narrow and dedicated tracks.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) shared the details of the system called Revolutionize Urban Mobility at the World Government Summit (WGS) 2026. A display board at the summit stated that the driverless pods will be launched across four locations in the city: Bluewater Island, Umm Suqeim, Al Quoz, and Dubai Festival City.
The Bluewater route will have the system stretch 2.8km from the National Paints metro station to Bluewater Island. This will be the trial route. At Umm Suqeim, the route will be 1.9km between the Mall of the Emirates metro station and Madinat Jumeirah. In Al Quoz, the autonomous track will cover 2.6km from the Onpassive metro station to Alserkal Avenue and Times Square Centre. The longest track will serve the Dubai Festival City area and be 7km long. It is expected to connect to the Dubai Metro Blue Line later.
The enclosed pod can carry four to six people and run 250km on a single charge. It will travel at 50km per hour. The prototype showed where passengers can scan their tickets or ask for help. An SOS button is located near the door next to a large handle to help people move.
The pods are designed by the California-based company Glydways. The system will utilize autonomous driving technologies at a significantly lower cost. Glydways has claimed its electric vehicles can be added alongside existing roads, above ground or underground, without additional tracks or wiring.
Mark Seeger, CEO of Glydways, confirmed that the service is expected to begin its first phase of operations within the next four months, marking a major milestone in Dubai’s goal to make 25% of all trips autonomous by 2030.
Glydways has been working with Dubai and Abu Dhabi to explore deploying its autonomous mass transit system since last year.
Officials have said Glydways is focused on solving the “last-mile” challenge, which is the short and inconvenient journey between public transport stations and final destinations. These driverless pods are expected to make public transport faster, more convenient, and more attractive for daily commuters and visitors alike.