Dubai is looking to attain a prominent position in the technology world by introducing driverless cars in the transportation system, which will eventually save motorist’s money and time which they spend in finding a parking space. A strategy launched by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum aims at making 25% of Dubai’s road trips autonomous by 2030. These autonomous vehicles will adopt biometric technology to scan the individuals on the roads and provide pick and drop services. At the Smart Parking UAE Conference, an expert emphasized the importance of autonomous cars in solving UAE parking issues, thus saving millions. According to an estimate, Dh1.5 billion annual saving will come from just cutting CO2 emissions, while the economy will benefit Dh18 billion as the city shifts to autonomous transport.
“Right now a lot of time and money is wasted looking for parking in every major city in the world and Dubai is no exception. A study in the UK showed that drivers spend 44 hours per year in [search of] parking and with the size of Dubai and its vehicle density, it would not be far behind,” said Zulfiqar Ali, a UK-based transport professional who was addressing at the conference.
Autonomous technology will not only change the way people commute and park, a positive environmental impact resulting from reduced carbon emissions will help in developing a pollution free city. While many experts gave positive comments about this project’s viability, some also highlighted regulatory and logistical issues related to this revolutionary trend. However, unanimous agreement on the importance of adopting new technologies suggests the possibility of Dubai becoming the first smart city in the world.
Dubai has also recently announced free parking for electric vehicles, which happen to also have some autonomous driving features.