The taxi is equipped with cameras and sensors that inform the car's movements to avoid collisions. Courtesy RTA
The taxi is equipped with cameras and sensors that inform the car's movements to avoid collisions. Courtesy RTA

Dubai's first autonomous taxi to be test run during Gitex



Dubai's first self-driving taxi will be test run during Gitex Technology Week, the emirate's Road and Transport Authority said on Saturday.

Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA said the autonomous vehicle would be tested initially on dedicated routes at Dubai Silicon Oasis.

The taxi is equipped with cameras and sensors that analyse traffic and road conditions, which inform the car's speed and direction to avoid collisions.

On Sunday, the authority also plans to unveil robot cleaners at Dubai Metro stations.

An artificial intelligence-automated Chat Bot system, that responds to customer inquiries using smart communication, will also be exhibited.

In August, the RTA said it would have autonomous vehicles on the city's roads in the "near future".

The claim came after the RTA said it had endorsed standards of testing for electric, hybrid and self-driving vehicles that will ensure the emirate is “pioneering” in the field.

Dubai targets 25 per cent of all journeys to be self-driving by 2030. The goal was set after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Dubai Smart Self-Driving vision in 2016.

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Read more:

Self-driving cars to hit Dubai’s roads in 'near future', says RTA 

Who's leading in race to bring autonomous cars to market?

The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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Tips to avoid getting scammed

1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday

2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment

3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone

4) Try not to close the sale at night

5) Don't be rushed into a sale 

6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

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Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis

Director: Eli Roth

Rating: 0/5

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Directed by: Jeethu Joseph

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Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.


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