Facility Aims to Enhance Transport Planning Systems During Major Events
Dubai. Roads and Transport Authority. 23rd December 2025:
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the Transport Data Analysis Laboratory at the Enterprise Command and Control Centre (EC3). The laboratory monitors, collects, and analyses transport data and prepares specialised studies and reports that enhance decision-support systems at both strategic and operational levels. It also strengthens readiness for transport planning and the management of major events and emergencies, while further reinforcing Dubai’s position as a smart city and a global leader in sustainable mobility.
The establishment of the new laboratory serves as a key enabler of the role of the Enterprise Command and Control Centre (EC3) as an integrated strategic platform for linking and governing RTA’s control centres. This is achieved by unifying operational monitoring processes within a single system that activates artificial intelligence technologies and predictive models for scenario analysis, supports the delivery of proactive solutions, enhances efficiency, and improves response times during major events and activities. The initiative also advances RTA’s future direction towards providing customised, data-driven 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.
“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.
“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 added: “The laboratory represents a practical step towards translating RTA’s vision and expanding the scope of research collaboration with academic institutions and strategic partners to develop best analytical practices in the transport sector. 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. These models contribute to forecasting traffic movement and demand levels across different modes of transport, thereby enhancing operational readiness under various times and conditions.”
The Director of the EC3 noted that the new laboratory recently analysed transport movement during the GITEX 2025 event. The Data Drive platform was utilised to analyse traffic patterns before and during the event, with the aim of identifying congestion points and improving traffic flow throughout the exhibition. The outcomes will be leveraged to enhance operational efficiency and support planning for upcoming seasons.
Through its advanced analytical systems, the laboratory also contributed to identifying locations with a higher likelihood of recurring traffic accidents, enabling the implementation of appropriate corrective measures in coordination with the relevant entities. This supports improved traffic safety and ensures smoother traffic movement across the emirate’s streets and roads.