Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will host the first RailX Dubai Conference and Exhibition next year, bringing together more than 5,000 participants to discuss rail infrastructure, investment and emerging mobility technologies.
To be held under the theme "Building the Future of Rail and Mobility" at Dubai World Trade Centre from May 31 to June 2, the conference is expected to attract more than 60 exhibitors and 70 speakers, including government officials, industry executives, investors and transport experts.
According to RTA, the agenda will be organised around five themes: connectivity, technology and innovation, investment, integrated transport planning, and customer experience.
The event will see experts discuss passenger and freight transport, economic corridors, cross-border connectivity, infrastructure investment and technology.
Topics will include artificial intelligence, automation, predictive maintenance, digital twins, cybersecurity, electrification, multimodal transport and Mobility as a Service.
The accompanying exhibition will feature rail and mobility technologies, including trains, operating and control systems, smart maintenance, automation, cybersecurity and sustainable infrastructure.
RTA Director General Mattar Al Tayer said the conference would provide a platform for policymakers, investors, operators and technology companies to discuss developments in the rail sector and opportunities for public-private partnerships.
Al Tayer said rail networks were an important part of Dubai's plans for economic development, urban growth and sustainable transport.
Dubai Metro accounts for about 40% of public transport ridership in the emirate and has carried nearly 3 billion passengers since beginning operations in 2009, according to the RTA.
The authority is implementing the Dubai Metro Blue Line project, while a tender for the Gold Line is expected to be issued by the end of 2026, Al Tayer said.
The Blue Line is scheduled for completion in 2029 and the Gold Line in 2032. Once both projects are completed, the Dubai Metro network is expected to expand to 162 km from 90 km currently, an increase of about 80%.
The two projects have a combined estimated cost of about AED55 billion ($15 billion), he added.