Dubai RTA to put all traffic signals under AI control, aims to cut congestion

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is connecting every traffic signal in the emirate to its control centre in Al Barsha, so that artificial intelligence can manage them. The authority expects congestion to fall by at least 10 per cent. The connections are due to be completed in early 2027.

Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of the RTA's Corporate Technology Support Services Sector, gave the details in a radio interview. Cameras and systems already in place will feed the AI, which will study vehicle movements, anticipate congestion and bottlenecks, and change signal timings as conditions shift. Bahrozyan said the 10 per cent cut would come together with other projects that also ease traffic. The Al Barsha centre already manages signals in continuous coordination with Dubai Police.

Signal control belongs to the RTA's updated AI strategy, which spans 41 areas of the authority. Public transport planning for buses, the Metro and marine transport is among them, as are contracts, procurement, finance and human resources. The RTA aims to build AI into all 41 areas within two and a half years. The rollout has six phases. The first two are under way, and the other four are planned over the next two years. The strategy is reviewed every six months to a year.

The plan also changes how customers deal with the RTA. Motorists are expected to pay fines, renew vehicle registrations and renew driving licences through AI assistants. The authority plans to shift more than half of its services and operations to this assistant-based setup within two years. It expects the strategy to add more than Dh300 million in value each year.

Bahrozyan also said the RTA's assets are worth more than Dh150 billion, and the portfolio is growing with projects such as the Dubai Metro Blue Line. He said AI could raise asset monitoring coverage to about five times today's level.

For drivers and residents, the changes touch daily commutes and routine transactions such as fine payments and licence renewals. Those looking at homes near the control centre can browse Al Barsha rentals.

Gulf News reported the plan, and Khaleej Times carried the same remarks.