Dubai closes three E611 lanes and airport tunnel daily Oct. 26-31 for autonomous taxi highway tests

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced temporary closures from Monday, October 26, through Saturday, October 31, to let autonomous taxi companies conduct highway testing.

What closes, and when

Three lanes on Emirates Road (E611), opposite Al Maktoum International Airport, will close, and the Al Maktoum International Airport Tunnel will be fully closed in both directions. The restrictions run daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — seven hours a day, not a round-the-clock closure.

Why the roads are closing

The RTA said the closures allow self-driving taxi companies to test on the expressway under real road conditions, as part of Dubai's push into intelligent mobility. Driverless taxis were rolled out on Dubai's roads earlier this year.

Advice for travellers

The authority urged motorists to plan journeys in advance, follow directional signs and allow extra time — especially passengers heading to the airport, who should follow their airline's arrival-time advice so delays do not eat into check-in, baggage drop and security.