Dubai unveils AI-powered trackless tram

Dubai has unveiled an artificial intelligence-powered trackless tram during the global technology exhibition GITEX 2025. 

The innovation was presented by the city’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) as part of a showcase of cutting-edge transport technologies aimed at redefining urban mobility, according to Tabnak, a partner of TV BRICS.

The AI tram operates autonomously without traditional rail infrastructure, using advanced artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) systems to navigate designated routes. The technology promises to reduce congestion, improve transport efficiency, and enhance overall quality of life in the city.

The trackless tram is one of 11 smart transport initiatives introduced by the RTA at this year’s GITEX. Authorities highlighted that it forms part of the city’s broader vision to become a global leader in smart mobility and innovation-driven infrastructure.

In early September, the first tram equipped with autonomous driving systems was launched in Moscow. It can independently make stops, open and close its doors, follow traffic signals, keep to its schedule, yield to pedestrians, and determine how to navigate junctions, according to the official website of the Moscow Government. By the end of 2026, 15 trams from the Krasnopresnensky depot are expected to operate in autonomous mode, and by 2030 more than 300 trams – around two-thirds of the city’s entire fleet – will be fitted with self-driving technology.

China’s autonomous transport sector is also developing rapidly. Trials of self-driving systems are being carried out in 20 cities across the country, including Beijing, Wuhan and Shanghai, reports CGTN, a partner of TV BRICS. According to forecasts, by 2030 the Chinese robotaxi sector could account for as much as 60 per cent of the country’s taxi market.

Photo: frantic00 / iStock