UAE Advances Autonomous Mobility Across Airside and Urban Transport

dnata has introduced six autonomous electric baggage tractors at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport, marking a pioneering shift in airport ground operations. The EZTow tractors, designed by TractEasy, tow up to four baggage containers at speeds near 15 km/h, operating at Level 3 autonomy under limited human oversight. By early 2026 the system is set to upgrade to Level 4 self-driving capability. The AED 6 million rollout seeks to enhance efficiency, safety, and allow staff to be redeployed to complex tasks.

This deployment is one of the first live uses of autonomous ground vehicles in commercial aviation environments, with an operational testbed for wider adoption. dnata, alongside partners Dubai Airports, TractEasy and the General Civil Aviation Authority, will refine operating models and regulations ahead of DWC’s planned capacity of 260  million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo annually.

Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City has simultaneously launched Level 4 autonomous shuttle testing in collaboration with Mubadala’s Solutions+, under the Integrated Transport Centre’s Smart and Autonomous Systems Council. A 2.4‑kilometre geofenced route connects key locations such as the Siemens Building, IRENA HQ, My City Centre Masdar Mall and Central Park. Initially monitored by onboard safety officers, these vehicles will transition to remote monitoring as testing progresses. Masdar City’s CEO Ahmed Baghoum emphasised the alignment of this project with environmental and digital innovation goals.

Meanwhile, in Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority has secured a partnership with China’s Baidu to deploy 50 Level 4 autonomous taxis — the RT6 model — by the end of 2025. These taxis, equipped with over 40 sensors, will serve as a data-gathering pilot, with long-term plans for scaling up to 1,000 vehicles across the city based on performance data and passenger feedback.

These simultaneous advancements reflect a coordinated national approach to smart mobility encompassing airside, urban shuttle services and public transport. They support the UAE’s broader ambition to become a global testbed for autonomous vehicle integration across infrastructure sectors.

Industry bodies, including the International Air Transport Association, note trials of automated ground support equipment in more than 15 countries, but most remain in experimental stages. The UAE, by placing these systems into everyday operations, is accelerating both regulatory frameworks and deployment standards.

dnata’s initiative extends beyond DWC; company executives indicate plans to replicate autonomous ground vehicle programmes in global markets, utilising the insights and regulatory models developed in Dubai. Abu Dhabi’s shuttle testing further solidifies the emirate as a living lab for sustainable, intelligent transport, reinforcing Masdar City’s role within the Smart Autonomous Vehicles Industry cluster.

Public deployment of driverless urban taxis complements these efforts. Abu Dhabi saw the launch of the Middle East’s first fully autonomous taxis—powered by China’s WeRide and WeRide’s partnership with Uber—on public roads in May 2025. The service operates across Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands, linking to commercial hubs such as Abu Dhabi Global Market, signalling readiness for scaled commercial use.

The cumulative effect of these initiatives signals the UAE’s transformation into a reference point for integrated autonomous mobility. Airport automation, urban shuttles, and public robotaxi services are all progressing concurrently, establishing precedent-setting frameworks for infrastructure, regulation, safety, and data governance. These deployments are expected to shape future mobility landscapes both domestically and on a global scale.

Air corridor mapping for air taxis and cargo drones remains underway, with regulatory corridors expected by late 2026 and piloted vehicles in the sky by 2026. This aerial component integrates elegantly with the ground-focused programmes, laying the foundation for a comprehensive autonomous ecosystem.