A Dutch technology firm has secured the contract for a major autonomous transportation project for a new major waterfront currently under construction in Dubai. 2getthere, a world-leading developer of sustainable mobility solutions won the contract in which it will be tasked with the responsibility of delivering a new automated vehicle system in Dubai - that will link the new waterfront lifestyle destination 'Bluewaters' with the city's existing infrastructure in the form of its metro service.
Bluewaters is a destination currently under construction and is located 500metres off the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) coastline which is opposite the beach and is also situated near Dubai Marina. The stunning destination will also be home to Ain Dubai, which is set to become the tallest and largest observation wheel in the world. Once completed Ain Dubai will provide stunning views of major tourist attraction such as the Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeriah - and will be able to carry 1,400 passengers in its 48 capsules.
The innovative autonomous transportation project will have a capacity of 5,000 people per-hour per direction, with the automated vehicle connection between the island destination and the metro system set to become the largest of its kind in the world and is considered an example of the future of autonomous transport solutions.
Property on Bluewaters is set to be in high demand - with the island projecting perfectly the city's spectacular coastline and skyline, with a collection of townhouses, penthouses and apartments. In addition to this, retail and dining experiences can be enjoyed in two hotels which will be constructed - which will all be easily accessed thanks to this multi-modal autonomous system to the island.
Dubai's key decision-makers have previously revealed its objective to have 25% of all trips in the city to be completed by autonomous systems by 2035. The new system at the idyllic island destination will feature twenty-five driverless Group Rapid Transit (GRT) vehicles capable of carrying 24 passengers each.
The CEO of 2gethere expressed his delight at winning the contract - and believed the decision to award the contract to the company which headquartered in Utrecht was based on its 'excellent track record'.
Carel van Helsdingen said, "We believed from the start that our system and technology provided the best fit for the application. It is rewarding to be under contract. The award of the project clearly shows the increased interest in 2getthere's systems throughout the Middle East. This is based to a large extent on our excellent track record in Masdar City and Capelle aan den IJssel in the Netherlands, where we operate comparable systems with a high availability and reliability in harsh climate conditions."
The Dutch company will realize the innovative project through its Middle East joint venture with United Technical Services. COO, Ziad Al Askari maintained that the futuristic transport service was a key factor in achieving a sustainable economy for the United Arab Emirates. He said, "His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, recently launched a strategy for smart self-driving transport as part of Dubai's strategy to become the smartest city in the world. By 2030, 25 percent of all transportation trips in Dubai will be smart and driverless. As such we are proud to contribute to this ambitious goal."
2getthere CEO believes the system will generate huge appeal and will undoubtedly encourage more people to visit Bluewaters by public transit. In addition to this he believes that there will be a logistical paradigm shift in the coming years, as more and more autonomous technology is made commercially available.
He concluded by saying: "On one hand, it is led by metropolitan policy makers in the Middle East and Asia in search of smart city solutions. On the other hand, it will be increasingly driven by the technology and automotive sector in de US (e.g. in Sillicon Valley and Detroit) responding to the call for cost-effective and environmental friendly last mile solutions. The latter ones connect medium-sized airports to city centers and convert corporate campuses that are hosting 10,000 people or more, into smart cities.