Dubai has been selected to host the UITP Global Public Transport Summit in 2026, as announced by the International Association for Public Transport

The International Association for Public Transport (UITP) announced that Dubai has been chosen to host the UITP Global Public Transport Conference in 2026, at this year's conference in Barcelona, Spain. Dubai will host the prestigious event, which brings together leaders in the field and specialists, for a second time after its first hosting in 2011.

A prominent international event, the UITP Global Public Transport Summit draws more than 15,000 people and 1,900 delegates from 100 different nations. Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) board of executive directors, and Mohamed Mezghani, secretary-general of the UITP, both signed the contract.

Al Tayer credited Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, as well as Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister, for their contributions to Dubai's selection as the summit's host city.

With Dubai hosting the UITP World Congress and Exhibition in 2011 and four iterations of the UITP MENA Congress and Exhibition, the relationship between RTA and UITP has grown stronger over time. The Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, and a contemporary fleet of public buses are just a few of the large-scale projects that RTA has finished under the direction of Sheikh Mohammed and are estimated to have cost about Dh146 billion.

The proportion of mass and shared mobility methods has greatly expanded in Dubai as a result of its efforts to create an integrated, sustainable transport network, reaching 19.4% in 2022. Over 621 million people used public and shared transport in 2022, a phenomenal increase. In line with Dubai Strategy 2050, RTA has also embraced zero-emission public transit. The city's improvements in urban mobility will be on display during the UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Dubai in 2026.