11 October 2026
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) started a four-week trial of the Dubai Glydways automated transit system at Bluewaters on Sunday, 11 October 2026. Driverless electric vehicles for four to six passengers run on narrow dedicated guideways, separate from road traffic, at up to 50 km/h. According to the RTA, the system can carry more than 20,000 passengers per hour in both directions. The trial is run together with Dubai Holding, and the next routes under study include a 2.8 km link from National Paints Metro Station to Bluewaters.
What Dubai launched on 11 October
The trial started with a demonstration ride. Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, took a five-minute trip in a Dubai Glydways vehicle along the dedicated track at Bluewaters. Before the ride he was briefed on the system together with Mark Seeger, founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Glydways, and Blake Barber, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer of the company, and reviewed the control centre that manages vehicle movements on the guideways.
The trial has two partners:
- Glydways, a company founded in 2016 that develops automated transit networks with self-driving electric vehicles. The RTA and Glydways signed a cooperation agreement in February 2026, on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit, to launch Dubai’s first automated transit network programme.
- Dubai Holding, which provides the testing environment, infrastructure and operational support under a separate partnership agreement. The dedicated track is at Bluewaters; according to the release, it belongs to Dubai Retail, part of Dubai Holding.
The RTA describes the project as a public-private partnership that draws on private companies specialising in autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence.
How the Glydways system works
Glydways is not a train and not a bus. It is a network of small on-demand vehicles that run only on their own guideways. The key parameters published by the RTA:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Passengers per vehicle | 4 to 6 |
| Top speed | up to 50 km/h |
| Range on one charge | up to 250 km |
| Sensors | 20 high-resolution LiDAR sensors, radar and high-definition cameras |
| Platooning | more than 10 vehicles virtually linked, under one second apart |
| System capacity | more than 20,000 passengers per hour in both directions |
| Costs, per the RTA | capital costs up to 90% lower, operating costs up to 70% lower than similar systems |
The guideways are narrow and lightweight and can be built at ground level or elevated, which the RTA says gives flexibility in fitting the system into existing infrastructure. The service is designed to run around the clock and on demand: a passenger travels directly from departure to destination without intermediate stops. Khaleej Times adds that passengers can adjust the air conditioning and entertainment inside the vehicle.
In February, Mark Seeger told Gulf News that each Glydways lane carries about 10,000 people per hour and is about two metres wide, roughly the size of a bike lane. That is consistent with the RTA figure of more than 20,000 passengers per hour in both directions.
What the four-week trial will test
According to the RTA, the pilot phase covers:
- vehicle performance and the related technical systems;
- readiness of autonomous driving, sensing, communication and control systems;
- safety and reliability levels;
- user experience, journey times and ease of use;
- operational efficiency and management of vehicle movements.
The data will be used to assess the system’s readiness and the potential for wider deployment, including integration with Dubai’s public transport network. Al Tayer said the authority is committed to turning promising transport technologies into practical applications and testing them in Dubai’s urban environment.
Routes under study
The main purpose of Dubai Glydways is first and last-mile travel: linking Dubai Metro stations with residential, commercial and tourist destinations. The RTA lists the following routes under study:
- National Paints Metro Station to Bluewaters, 2.8 km;
- Jumeirah Village;
- Dubai Festival City;
- Business Bay;
- Mohammed Bin Rashid City.
The list differs from February. The cooperation agreement announced then provided for studying a pilot route from National Paints Metro Station to Bluewaters Island and routes from Metro stations to Madinat Jumeirah, Alserkal Avenue, Times Square Centre and Dubai Festival City. The October release does not explain the change. Lengths, budgets and opening dates for the new routes have not been published.
The trial fits into a wider RTA programme. In July the authority presented a plan to link 25 residential districts with 63 public transport stops by 2030, which we covered in our article on Dubai’s last-mile transport plan. Autonomous vehicles are also tested at Dubai Mobility Labs in Dubai Silicon Oasis, opened in September.
What is not known yet
The official announcement leaves several questions open:
- fares: the RTA has not announced any; in February Seeger told Gulf News that the fare would be pegged to the local transit fare system, but this is the company’s description, not an RTA tariff;
- whether members of the public can ride during the trial;
- a date for commercial operations or for building the first route;
- the basis for the cost comparisons and any performance results from Bluewaters.
What this means for companies in Dubai
For now, nothing changes for businesses. This is a four-week technical trial on one site, not a public transport service, and the routes are still under study. Commuting, client access and logistics should be planned around the transport that operates today.
For companies that choose an office or a shop location in the areas named by the RTA, such as Business Bay, Jumeirah Village, Dubai Festival City or Mohammed Bin Rashid City, it makes sense to follow the official RTA updates on these routes. A route becomes a practical factor only after the RTA confirms its alignment, stations and opening date.
If you are setting up a company in Dubai, the basics do not depend on new transport:
- the licence type, mainland or free zone, defines where you can work and whom you can serve;
- a mainland company needs a registered office address with a tenancy contract;
- a free zone company usually works from the free zone’s own premises, including flexi-desks;
- visas for founders and staff are issued after the company is registered.
How Atlant Capital can help
We handle company setup in Dubai and other emirates: we help compare mainland and free zone options, choose the business activities and prepare the documents for registration. If you are only starting, our UAE company formation guide explains the steps, timelines and documents, including office requirements.
Conclusion
On 11 October 2026 the RTA began a four-week trial of the Dubai Glydways automated transit system at Bluewaters, with Glydways and Dubai Holding as partners. Small driverless electric vehicles for four to six passengers run on dedicated guideways at up to 50 km/h, and the RTA puts the system capacity at more than 20,000 passengers per hour in both directions. The trial will test safety, reliability, journey times and user experience. Routes from National Paints Metro Station to Bluewaters and in Jumeirah Village, Dubai Festival City, Business Bay and Mohammed Bin Rashid City are under study, with no fares or opening dates announced.
Source: Gulf Business.
FAQ
What is the Glydways system Dubai is testing?
Dubai Glydways is an automated transit network of driverless electric vehicles that run on narrow dedicated guideways, separate from road traffic. Each vehicle carries four to six passengers at up to 50 km/h and has a range of up to 250 km. The RTA says the system can carry more than 20,000 passengers per hour in both directions.
Where and how long is the Glydways trial in Dubai?
The trial takes place on a dedicated track at Bluewaters and lasts four weeks from 11 October 2026. It is run by the RTA with Glydways and Dubai Holding, which provides the infrastructure and operational support. It tests safety, reliability, autonomous driving systems, journey times and user experience.
Which Glydways routes is Dubai studying?
The RTA is studying a 2.8 km route from National Paints Metro Station to Bluewaters and routes serving Jumeirah Village, Dubai Festival City, Business Bay and Mohammed Bin Rashid City. Their aim is to connect Dubai Metro stations with residential, commercial and tourist destinations. No opening dates or budgets have been announced.
Can the public ride Glydways in Dubai and how much will it cost?
The RTA has not said whether members of the public can ride during the four-week trial, and it has not announced fares. In February 2026 the Glydways chief executive told Gulf News that the fare would be pegged to the local public transport fare system, but no official tariff exists yet.
