Dubai RTA Closes Lanes and Airport Tunnel for Autonomous Taxi Highway Testing October 26 to 31
What happened
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority scheduled daily closures of three lanes on Emirates Road (E611) and the full shutdown of the Al Maktoum International Airport Tunnel between 9am and 4pm from October 26 to 31, 2026, to conduct high-speed autonomous vehicle testing.
The Context
* Strategic testing grounds: The affected zone opposite Al Maktoum International Airport provides long-stretch highway conditions required to validate high-speed maneuvers and automated fleet software under live regional infrastructure. * Global partnerships in play: The trials build on active testing agreements with autonomous vehicle leaders including Apollo Go, WeRide, and Baidu to establish reliable commercial operations. * Targeted midday disruption: The 9am to 4pm window isolates the trials between morning and evening rush hours, requiring logistics operators and daily commuters to divert via alternative arterial corridors.
The Number
— the target fleet size of autonomous taxis and delivery vans slated for regional deployment in the coming year, transforming Dubai into a primary testbed for scaled driverless logistics.
Takeaway
Expect temporary logistics friction around Dubai South this week as transport infrastructure transitions from conventional transit corridors to an automated transport ecosystem.
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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
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has announced the closure of three lanes on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road...
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Dubai traffic alert: E611 lanes, airport tunnel to close for autonomous taxi tests — what to know
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has announced lane closures on Emirates Road (E611), opposite Al Maktoum Airport, along with a full closure of the Al Maktoum Airport tunnel in both directions, to allow autonomous taxi tests. The clos...
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Dubai traffic alert: E611 lanes, airport tunnel to close for autonomous taxi tests — what to know
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has announced lane closures on Emirates Road (E611), opposite Al Maktoum Airport, along with a full closure of the Al Maktoum Airport tunnel in both directions, to allow autonomous taxi tests. The clos...
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Dubai to close some E611 lanes, Al Maktoum airport tunnel amid autonomous taxi testing
Dubai is closing some lanes of the E611 road and the Al Maktoum airport tunnel as autonomous taxi testing takes place in the emirate, according to a Khaleej Times report. The closures are part of a broader effort to trial self-driving transport and m...