New public transportation may affect the use of cars in Dubai

Cars have been the main mode of transportation for decades now. The number of cars sold worldwide has been increasing massively over the past years. Now in 2016, over 75 million units are expected to be sold around the world. In Dubai, the number of vehicles has doubled in the last eight years from 740,000 at the end of 2006 to 1.4 million at the end of 2014. This is an average annual increase of 8.2%, which is one of the highest in the world.

The automotive industry keeps pace with the development of technology constantly. New technologies have been brought to make cars even more convenient and advanced. Consequently, the use of cars was expected to be even more relevant in the future.

However, with the announcement of the Gulf Railway and Dubai Hyperloop, will cars in Dubai be actually relevant in the future?

New public transportation projects

Dubai Hyperloop

Hyperloop is basically a system that uses electric propulsion to accelerate a passenger or cargo vehicle through a tube. Autonomously, the vehicle will be slightly elevated above the track and will glide faster than the speed of an airplane over long distances. In Dubai, the Hyperloop is a concept that will reduce travel time dramatically, as it will allow passengers to travel between Dubai and Fujairah in 10 minutes only. The system will allow capsules within the pipe to travel at high speeds of up to 1,200 km per hour.

Gulf Railway

The Gulf Railway is a planned project that will connect a number of GCC countries to make travelling easier and faster. The railway will have stops in major cities and will be a 2,177-km regional network.

EZ10

The EZ10 is a battery-powered autonomous electric bus that is four meters long and two meters wide. It accommodates 10 people inside a user-friendly cabin. It travels from Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard/Finacial Centre Street intersection to Vida Hotel in Downtown Dubai. This electronically-assisted vehicle follows a route and can be modified by authorities. It is still on trial phase.

The future of cars in Dubai

The Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Managing Director of Dubai Future Foundation, Mohammed Al Gergawi, said that the development of future transportation solutions will effectively change the way people handle their daily tasks. He also stated that Dubai Hyperloop technology will eventually lead to massive global economic growth.

Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy, which is a joint venture between the Dubai Future Foundation and the RTA, aims to transform 25 per cent of the total transportation in Dubai to autonomous mode by 2030.

In Abu Dhabi, Magnetic Sky Cars – also known as skyTran vehicles – have been introduced. They are safe, efficient, and advanced computer-controlled jets that move through magnetic lines autonomously. If this technology hits Dubai, it will surely be a huge step forward towards more practical and easier commute.

All of these technologies and a lot more are currently being studied and developed. On paper, these technologies are expected to revolutionize transportation massively. These transportation solutions could actually eliminate the need of cars, or at least reduce their use, price, and sales. On the contrary, the benefits of personal cars might be too good to let go. In addition to the benefit of on-demand transportation, cars offer maximum mobility, independence, and convenience.

All in all, no one can be sure of what the future of transportation will look like. Technology is on the rise, and so is the automotive industry. Who knows, maybe we will have flying cars in Dubai in the future, or maybe we won't even need cars.