Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the Research, Development and Innovation Strategy 2030 aimed at advancing the emirate’s mobility ecosystem through research and innovation. The initiative focuses on cultivating world-class competencies to shape the future of the transport sector.

According to Emirates News Agency, this strategic move aligns with the Dubai Research, Development and Innovation Program, which seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for R and D and innovation activities across the emirate. This effort also aligns with the directives of Dubai’s leadership to position the city among the world’s leading cities in future readiness and harnessing scientific research for pioneering achievements.

The strategy supports RTA’s strategic transformation journey in its business models, aligning with future R and D and innovation priorities. It is part of RTA’s vision to become ‘The World Leader in Seamless and Sustainable Mobility.’

Muna Al Osaimi, CEO of Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector at RTA, explained that the development of the R and D and Innovation Strategy 2030 aligns with federal and local strategies, as well as RTA’s own strategy, to strengthen future readiness and build capabilities in research and innovation. The strategy aims to raise maturity levels, increase investment in R and D, and boost the proportion of projects generating patents.

Aligned with the National Innovation Strategy, the strategy is being advanced in partnership with academic institutions and the private sector, particularly start-ups. It complements the ‘The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World’ campaign, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Al Osaimi highlighted that the strategy is built on four key pillars: safety, future seamless mobility technologies, sustainability, and operational excellence. It aims to enhance transport infrastructure safety, reduce fatalities, and manage traffic congestion by studying mobility patterns and promoting integration across transport modes. The initiative also seeks to boost demand for multimodal mobility, reduce emissions, and enhance RTA’s operational efficiency.

She further noted that the strategy results from RTA’s investment in regulatory models supporting partnerships across multiple sectors. It expands investment opportunities in R and D, supports start-ups, and enables collaboration with stakeholders in R and D and innovation across the Dubai Government, business community, and academia. RTA’s intellectual property portfolio includes 137 registrations and 58 proof-of-concept trials conducted in 2024.

RTA aims to foster a supportive regulatory environment for research, development, and innovation by providing necessary enablers within a governance framework. This ensures strategic alignment of activities, accelerates decision-making, enables responsible financial resource allocation, and promotes effective oversight and flexibility through sustainable funding mechanisms.