Dubai RTA Closes Three Emirates Road E611 Lanes and Al Maktoum Airport Tunnel for Daytime Autonomous Taxi Highway Testing October 26-31 2026
What happened
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority closed three lanes on Emirates Road (E611) and the entire Al Maktoum International Airport Tunnel daily between 9am and 4pm from October 26 to October 31, 2026, to conduct controlled highway testing for autonomous taxis.
The Context
* High-speed validation underway: Autonomous taxi operators have shifted from local street pilots to testing complex merging maneuvers and lane shifts at highway velocity within a designated traffic corridor. * Airport corridor impact: The bidirectional shutdown of the Al Maktoum International Airport Tunnel alongside partial E611 closures redirects logistics operators and commuters to alternate arterial roads for seven midday hours. * Aggressive operational scaling: The live roadway trials follow official commitments to transition autonomous transport from specialized technology demonstrations into commercial public fleets.
The Number
The target volume of autonomous taxis and delivery vans slated for commercial UAE deployment in 2027, signaling an accelerated shift in regional logistics, business travel, and infrastructure design.
Takeaway
Live highway validation marks the transition of autonomous fleets from controlled city pilots to full-scale commercial transit, positioning regional transport networks for high-volume driverless integration by 2027.
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Dubai RTA announces Emirates Road lane closures for self-driving taxi tests
The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the closure of three lanes on Emirates Road (E611), opposite Al Maktoum Airport, along with a full closure of the Al Maktoum Airport tunnel in both directions. The closures run from October ...
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"طرق دبي": إغلاق 3 مسارات على شارع الإمارات «E611» ونفق مطار آل مكتوم من 26 إلى 31 أكتوبر "طرق دبي": إغلاق 3 مسارات على شارع الإمارات «E611» ونفق مطار آل مكتوم من 26 إلى 31 أكتوبر
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