Dubai's Trackless Tram System Set to Transform Urban Mobility

Autonomous Electric Transit Revolutionizes Public Transport

Dubai is launching an innovative trackless tram system as part of a major public transport expansion. The autonomous electric transit network will operate across eight locations, marking a significant shift in urban planning and mobility infrastructure.

The trackless tram operates without physical rails. Instead, it uses optical navigation, GPS, and LiDAR technology to follow virtual routes on painted lanes. Moreover, the AI-powered system detects obstacles and adjusts movement in real time, ensuring passenger safety and operational efficiency.

Cutting Costs and Construction Time

Unlike traditional trams, this trackless version requires minimal construction work. Consequently, deployment happens faster and at lower costs. Each tram consists of three carriages carrying up to 300 passengers. The vehicles reach speeds of 70 km/h, with typical operating speeds between 25 and 60 km/h. Additionally, a single charge enables travel up to 100km.

The system will complement existing transport networks, including the driverless metro. This integration creates a comprehensive mobility solution for residents and visitors alike.

Expanding Priority Lane Network

Alongside the trackless tram system, authorities are extending dedicated bus and taxi lanes. Six new corridors covering 13km will increase the total network to 20km. Therefore, bus journey times are expected to drop by 41%. Furthermore, punctuality should improve by 42%, while ridership may rise by 10%.

These improvements offer commuters a stronger alternative to private cars. The expanded lanes demonstrate how cities can address congestion through strategic infrastructure development.

Sleek silver tram passing modern glass skyscrapers, setting the aesthetic standard for the upcoming autonomous Trackless Tram fleet. — Dubai’s transit network blends seamlessly with its vertical architecture, a design philosophy that continues with the new electric autonomous units. (Image Courtesy of RTA)

Rising Public Transport Usage

Public transport usage continues climbing in Dubai. In 2025, 802 million passengers used metro, buses, taxis, marine transport, and shared mobility services. This represents a 7.4% year-on-year increase, according to recent news reports.

The trackless tram system supports broader mobility goals. However, success depends on service quality, coverage, and seamless integration across transport modes. The city aims to make public transport the preferred choice for daily commutes.

Future-Ready Urban Transit

This project highlights how technology transforms urban planning. The trackless tram system offers flexibility that traditional rail cannot match. Meanwhile, it provides capacity and reliability that standard buses struggle to achieve.

The combination of autonomous vehicles, virtual tracking, and dedicated lanes creates an efficient transit model. Additionally, the electric powertrain aligns with sustainability objectives for cleaner cities.

Will this trackless tram system become a blueprint for other urban centers seeking cost-effective, high-capacity transit solutions?

A Quick Architectural Snapshot

The trackless tram system features three-carriage units with 300-passenger capacity. Virtual tracks use painted road markings read by cameras and supported by GPS and LiDAR. Electric power enables 100km range per charge. Operating speeds range from 25 to 60 km/h across eight Dubai locations. The dedicated lane network spans 20km total length after expansion.

ArchUp Editorial Insight

Dubai’s trackless tram deployment is not a transit innovation story. It is a system correction produced by three converging pressures.

First, a financing model that for decades prioritized road infrastructure CAPEX over distributed transit networks, embedding car dependency into every corridor and land parcel. Second, a ridership growth curve, 802 million trips in 2025, that now threatens the operational capacity of existing modes designed for lower volumes. Third, a procurement logic that selects trackless systems precisely because they avoid the approval complexity, land acquisition risk, and construction timelines that conventional rail demands.

The 41% journey time reduction is not an efficiency gain. It is a measure of how much time the previous infrastructure framework was already extracting from daily life. The trackless tram does not solve the pattern. It manages the symptom at lower institutional risk.

The question is whether urban planning decisions will now follow the ridership, or continue following the road.