The Emirate of Dubai has signed an agreement with General Motors-Cruise to operate self-driving cars as of 2023.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, said in a tweet on his personal account, "Our goal is to transform 25 percent of the total transportation trips in Dubai into self-driving trips through various means of transportation by 2030."
He added: "Dubai will be the first outside America to operate cruise vehicles for self-transportation, in order to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid that Dubai will always be in the first place and the best city for living and working."
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed had received Jeff Bleach, the legal executive director of "General Motors-Cruise", where the two parties discussed the latest developments in the field of using self-driving cars, and the global company's efforts in developing this technology, which is one of the areas of interest A major part of Dubai's future directions, according to the Emirates News Agency.
The two sides also reviewed developments in safety systems in cars and electric cars, ways to enhance cooperation in this field, and the Emirate's efforts with regard to experiments conducted on self-driving means of transportation, to support its strategy for smart self-driving mobility.
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Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed witnessed the signing of the partnership agreement between the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai and the company to operate self-driving cars to provide taxi services and electronic reservation services.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed described the agreement as "the first of its kind in the world between a government agency and a leading company in the field of self-driving mobility, and constitutes an important step in achieving Dubai's strategy for smart, self-driving transportation."
According to the Emirates News Agency, the agreement contributes to achieving Dubai's vision through self-driving technology by 2030, and includes "reducing transportation costs by 900 million dirhams annually, saving 1.5 billion dirhams annually by reducing environmental pollution by 12 percent, as well as Achieving 18 billion dirhams in annual economic revenues by increasing the efficiency of the transportation sector in Dubai.
Dan Amann, President of Cruise, also expressed his gratitude for RTA's selection of his company, and praised the RTA's efforts in developing an innovative framework for implementing self-driving mobility.
He said: "Cruise Origin cars will make transportation safer, provide the best experience for customers, and make it easier and more sustainable. In addition, Dubai and the Roads and Transport Authority are working to transform this future vision into a reality that serves everyone."