Dubai will get 636 new buses which have low carbon emissions and comply with European specifications

Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has won a Dh1.1 billion contract for 636 new buses to be delivered to Dubai. These buses, which meet European standards and have minimal carbon emissions, will be delivered in 2024 and 2025. With forty electric buses in the fleet, it's the biggest and first of its sort in the United Arab Emirates.

The new agreement will help RTA achieve its goal of having 25% of trips taken by public transportation by 2030 and making it the preferred mode of transportation, according to Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA.

Technology attributes 

Driver Behaviour Monitoring System (Raqeeb): According to Al Tayer, this technology-enhanced monitoring system will be installed in the majority of buses. Its purpose is to improve driver behaviour and increase safety. 

The Automated Passenger Counting (APC) system aims to prevent fare evasion by recording real passenger counts and cross-referencing them with automated fare collecting. 

Driver Identity Authentication: The operating system and the driver's authentication are connected.

The agreement calls for the acquisition of 450 city service buses, including 400 MAN (owned by a Volkswagen subsidiary) and 50 Zhongtong vehicles in addition to 40 electric buses from Zhongtong. It also includes 70 articulated buses from Isuzu Anadolu and 76 double-decker buses from Volvo.

The new buses are equipped with a number of amenities, including low flooring that make them accessible to those with a strong will, bike racks, kid-specific seats, Wi-Fi connectivity, and phone charging stations.

Under the direction of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, the Dh1.1 billion deal complies with the directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.