Autonomous Rapid Transit Starts Operation In Abu Dhabi: Free, Just Scan QR Code

The Autonomous Rapid Transit in Abu Dhabi, UAE. (Source: Txi)

JAKARTA - The choice of transportation services in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) has increased again with the presence of Autonomous Rapid Transit which is currently operating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to connect Reem Mall and Rixos Marina with 14 stops.

The public transportation, which can transport up to 240 passengers, was originally launched on Yas Island in December, as part of the Abu Dhabi's Smart Mobility Project.

Abu Dhabi ART service stopped at Marina Square, The Gallery Al Maryah Island, Sheikh Hazza Bin Sultan Mosque, City Seasons Al Hamra Hotel, Lifeline Hospital, NMC Speciality Hospital, Qasr Al Hosn, Sheraton Khalidiya Hotel, Khalidiya Park, Sheikha Fatima Park, Corniche and Marina Mall.

The first fleet departed from Reem Mall at 10 am and arrived at Rixos Marina Mall in just one hour. A total of five services for one trip departs every hour from Reem Mall and returns 15 minutes after arriving at the destination, with the last service arriving just after 4 pm.

Time settings and service tracking are available in the Darbi application, from the Integrated Transportation Center (ITC) of the City and Transport Department (DMT) in Abu Dhabi.

Passengers only need to scan the QR code in a vehicle with the Txai application to use this free service.

On Yas Island, ART operates the route every hour, from 8 am to 8 pm, from Gateway Park South 2 to Yas Waterworld, past Yas Hotels, Yas Marina Circuit and Ferrari World.

It is known, the Abu Dhabi's Smart Mobility Project is a collaboration between DMT, ITC and Bayanat which aims to introduce smart mobility systems for emirates.

Systems on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island currently have a fleet of 17 vehicles, including eight driverless taxis operated by Txai, six driverless Mini Robobuses, three ART vehicles and 15 charging stations.

The testing of the operation of driverless vehicles on Yas Island by Bayanat is supported by Chinese autonomous driving startup WeRide, which in July obtained the first initial national license from the UAE for driverless cars.

Vice President of WeRide Jennifer Li told The National News in August they plan to launch hundreds of autonomous vehicles by 2025.

"2025 will be a big year and we hope that by then there will be more autonomous cars on the streets, in the UAE. So we hope to reach ( hundreds of vehicles here," he said as quoted by The National News October 10.

In the last 18 months, more than 10,000 passengers have tried driverless taxis in Abu Dhabi.