Image: Dubai Media Office
Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a Transport Data Analysis Laboratory at its Enterprise Command and Control Centre (EC3), strengthening Dubai’s capabilities in data-driven transport planning, operational readiness, and emergency response.
The new laboratory is designed to monitor, collect and analyse transport data, producing specialised studies and reports that support decision-making at both strategic and operational levels. It also enhances preparedness for major events and emergencies, reinforcing Dubai’s standing as a smart city and a global leader in sustainable mobility.
The initiative further elevates the role of the Enterprise Command and Control Centre as an integrated strategic platform that links and governs RTA’s control centres. By unifying operational monitoring within a single system, the laboratory activates artificial intelligence technologies and predictive models for scenario analysis, enabling proactive solutions, improving efficiency, and reducing response times during major events and operational disruptions. It also aligns with RTA’s future direction of delivering customised, data-driven transport services.
Mohammed Al Ali, Director of the Enterprise Command and Control Centre, said: “The establishment of the Transport Data Analysis Laboratory represents a qualitative shift in the operational analytics ecosystem. It strengthens integration between monitoring systems and artificial intelligence and converts large volumes of operational data into predictive indicators that support accurate and rapid decision-making. These indicators contribute to smoother traffic flow, higher operational efficiency, and enhanced sustainability of the transport system across the emirate.
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“This initiative represents a new step within RTA’s ongoing efforts to harness modern technologies in support of its vision for safe, seamless, and sustainable mobility, while reinforcing the role of the EC3 as a key hub for innovation and digital transformation within Dubai’s intelligent transport ecosystem.”
He added: “The Transport Data Analysis Laboratory is supplied with real-time data from more than 35 sources covering various modes of transport, in coordination with operational centres and relevant departments. These include buses, the metro, the tram, marine transport, soft mobility means, as well as taxis, limousines, and private vehicles. The laboratory also automates more than 150 operational performance indicators, enhancing planning effectiveness, on-ground coordination, response speed, and the evaluation of implemented or pre-planned policies.”
Al Ali further noted that the laboratory represents a practical step towards translating RTA’s vision into action, while expanding research collaboration with academic institutions and strategic partners. “This is achieved through decision-making supported by an integrated framework focused on preparing comprehensive analytical studies and reports and leveraging artificial intelligence and big data to build advanced analytical models,” he said. “These models contribute to forecasting traffic movement and demand levels across different modes of transport, thereby enhancing operational readiness under various times and conditions.”
Data Drive platform
The laboratory has already been deployed to analyse transport movement during GITEX 2025. Using the Data Drive platform, traffic patterns before and during the event were assessed to identify congestion points and improve traffic flow across the exhibition area. The insights will be used to enhance operational efficiency and inform planning for future large-scale events.
Through its advanced analytical systems, the laboratory has also supported the identification of locations with a higher likelihood of recurring traffic accidents. This enables targeted corrective measures to be implemented in coordination with relevant authorities, contributing to improved road safety and smoother traffic movement across Dubai’s road network.
