Dubai has launched a smart self-driving transport strategy that aims to make 25% of transportation in the city driverless by 2030, resulting in estimated annual economic savings of over $6 billion. The strategy was launched by Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The UAE is also building a 1,200 km national railway network to connect major cities and industries, as well as link with other GCC countries, with commercial operations beginning in 2014 and trains traveling up to 200 km/h.

1. By Venkat Karanam
Binek Pressad

2.  Twenty-five per cent of transportation in Dubai will be smart and driverless by
2030, resulting in annual economic savings that exceed Dh22 billion.
 The smart self-driving transport strategy was launched on Monday by His
Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime
Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
 Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince,
and Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of
Dubai, and some senior officials were present.

3.  Etihad Rail, formerly known as Union Railway, was established in June 2009
under Federal Law No. 2 to manage the development, construction and operation
of the United Arab Emirates’ national freight and passenger railway network.
 The 1,200 km railway network will be built in three stages to link the principal
centres of population and industry of the UAE, as well as to form a vital part of
the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) railway network that will connect the
UAE with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. The Etihad Rail
network will be delivered in three stages, with commercial operations commencing
in 2014. The freight trains will travel at 120 km/h and passenger trains on the
network will run at speeds of up to 200 km/h. The network is mainly double track,
designed for mixed-use traffic, equipped with an in-cab European signalling
system (ETCS level 2), is of standard gauge, and is being built to accommodate
double stack containers.