{
  "id": 16574446,
  "title": "Dubai announces lane closures on Emirates Road from Monday to clear the way for self-driving taxi tests",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/dubai-announces-lane-closures-on-emirates-road-from-monday-to-clear",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-26T07:48:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/10/26/dubai-announces-lane-closures-on-emirates-road-from-monday-to-allow-for-self-driving-taxi-tests/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai will temporarily close a portion of Emirates Road, one of the city's primary highways, from Monday to October 31 to conduct tests for self-driving taxis. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that three lanes on E611, near Al Maktoum International Airport, will be barred between 9 am and 4 am daily during this period. The Al Maktoum International Airport Tunnel will also be fully closed to facilitate the autonomous vehicle trials.\n\nThe closures are part of Dubai's ongoing efforts to integrate autonomous technology into its road infrastructure. In September, the emirate launched the Dubai Mobility Labs, a testing center designed to evaluate self-driving technology in a controlled environment before it is deployed on public roads. The labs, located in Dubai Silicon Oasis, feature testing tracks and simulations to assess various traffic scenarios and weather conditions.\n\nSeveral companies have already carried out successful autonomous vehicle trials at the Dubai Mobility Labs, including Baidu, WeRide, and Tesla. Uber Technologies has also begun operating Baidu's Apollo Go driverless service in Dubai, with plans to introduce thousands of autonomous vehicles to the emirate. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, launched a self-driving taxi network in February, utilizing Baidu's Baidu Apollo Go cars.\n\nDubai's commitment to autonomous technology extends beyond the immediate road closures, with plans to establish a 15 square kilometer testing zone for self-driving taxis, delivery, and other service vehicles in Festival City and Dubai Creek Harbour. This larger-scale evaluation aims to determine how autonomous transport can function effectively on a more extensive scale.",
  "summary": "Dubai will partially close a stretch on one of the emirate's main motorways during peak hours this week, to enable tests of self-driving taxis to be carried out. Vehicles will be barred from using three lanes on Emirates Road, also known as E611, opposite Al Maktoum International Airport, the Roads and Transport Authority said. The rules will apply between 9am and 4am daily from Monday, October…",
  "key_points": [
    "Dubai closes three lanes on Emirates Road from 9 am to 4 am daily until October 31.",
    "Al Maktoum International Airport Tunnel fully closed for autonomous vehicle trials.",
    "Dubai Mobility Labs in Dubai Silicon Oasis conducts self-driving technology tests."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Dubai road closures this week for driverless taxi tests: Diversions, timings and travel tips",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/dubai-road-closures-this-week-for-driverless-taxi-tests-diversions",
        "published": "2026-10-26T09:12:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}