Dubai is driving forward with its bid to introduce autonomous cars - after Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed gave the green light to plans to safeguard the technology.
The Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of Dubai Executive Council has issued a directive to regulate testing of self-driving vehicles in the emirate.
The council resolution is part of the first phase of a legislative framework being created to ensure the vehicles are safe to hit the road.
The resolution will task Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority with ensuring safety standards are met during testing.
The RTA will also be responsible for providing licenses to operators and making sure they comply with regulations.
The Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy sets out to ensure 25 per cent of all vehicle on the road are autonomous by 2030.
The hi-tech initiative aims to bring in Dh22 billion to the Dubai economy every year and reduce transportation costs by 44 per cent, resulting in estimated savings of up to Dh900 million.
The influx of self-driving vehicles is also set to slash carbon emissions and the number of accidents, as well as saving millions of hours of time workers spend stuck in traffic rather than in the office.
The new legislation is the latest bid to accelerate plans to roll out the advanced automotive technology.
In August, the RTA sad it had endorsed standards of testing for electric, hybrid and self-driving vehicles to ensure the emirate is “pioneering” in the field.
The government body said that autonomous vehicles will be a fixture on the city's roads in the "near future".
The RTA said it had held 66 workshops with vehicle manufacturers, approved testing centres in Dubai and consultancy companies in the UAE to review and discuss the new standards.
The authority said it considered the need for technical staff, technology-aided testing and the anticipated growth of the vehicles when developing the logistical support for the testing of self-driving cars
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Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
8.15pm: Meydan Trophy Conditions (TB) | $100,000 (T) | 1,900m
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8.50pm: Balanchine Group 2 (TB) | $250,000 (T) | 1,800m
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Winner: Lava Spin, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Mountain Hunter, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
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“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Company%20Profile
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
