Dubai's transport authority has launched the next stage of one of the region's most ambitious smart-city programmes — and the numbers behind it are striking.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has commenced Phase II of the Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) Improvement and Expansion Project, following directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The phase focuses on improving the movement of people and goods across Dubai, with the overarching goal of turning the emirate into the smartest city in the world.
Expansion and Technological Adoption
RTA aims to achieve full ITS coverage of 100% of Dubai's main roads by 2026. The total length of the network will increase from 480 km to 710 km. This expansion will involve the adoption of the latest intelligent technologies, including Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS), alongside a benchmarking study of leading global cities in the field of transport technology.
Project Features and Benefits
According to H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA, the project's implementation will lead to major enhancements in the overall management of Dubai's road network, traffic flow, and incident response times. The rollout of new Variable Message Signs (VMS) and smart road-condition applications will improve personal mobility and help pave the way for self-driving transport technologies.
What Phase I Delivered
Phase I established a strong foundation. It included the installation of 116 traffic surveillance cameras, 100 incident monitoring and vehicle counting devices, 112 Variable Message Signs, 115 travel time and speed measurement units, and 17 weather sensor stations. The authority also laid 660 km of electric power lines and a fibre optic network spanning 820 km. The results were measurable: incident monitoring capability improved by 63%, emergency response times decreased by 30%, and journey durations dropped by 20%.
The Dubai ITS Centre and iTraffic
Located in Al Barsha, the Dubai ITS Centre is ranked among the world's top traffic control centres. It draws on artificial intelligence, big data analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT), advanced communication systems, and a wide array of monitoring devices to manage Dubai's road network around the clock. At its core is the iTraffic system — an AI and big data platform that monitors all traffic conditions and supports real-time decision-making across the city.
These developments reflect RTA's strategic direction and align with Dubai's broader plan to deploy advanced technologies and integrated smart solutions that strengthen the emirate's transport infrastructure — cementing its status as a global leader in intelligent traffic systems.
