Dubai explores future of self-driving taxis at high-level forum
AI seen as key to autonomous taxi efficiency and customer trust
DUBAI – A high-level session titled Dubai’s Path to Autonomous Taxi Deployment, moderated by Dr Ismail Zohdy, Self-Driving Transport Expert at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has explored how artificial intelligence can enhance the efficiency of self-driving taxis while ensuring maximum customer satisfaction.
The session also underscored the critical role of public–private partnerships in accelerating autonomous mobility.
Dr Hua Zhong, Senior Vice President of Engineering at WeRide, emphasised that international forums are vital platforms for exchanging expertise and raising awareness of the advanced software systems powering autonomous vehicles.
How is trust built?
Ammar Albreiki, Chief Operations Officer at Dubai Taxi, stressed the need for customer trust, noting that autonomous vehicles undergo meticulous manufacturing and maintenance processes, reinforced by rigorous risk assessment and mitigation frameworks.
Guest speaker Ann Shi, Vice President of Pony.ai, highlighted customer-centric strategies, platform updates and global partnerships in the self-driving sector.
Meanwhile, Mohamad Jardaneh, Head of Autonomous Mobility for Uber in the Middle East, showcased the company’s successes in the UAE, noting how platform technologies have enabled faster, more flexible services in passenger and freight transport.