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Dubai. 16 December 2025:
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a pilot operation to
clean traffic signals across Dubai using drone technology. This innovative step
reflects RTA’s commitment to adopting advanced technologies within operational
processes and deploying smart solutions that align with a future-focused vision to
enhance service quality, optimise resource efficiency, and achieve the highest levels
of traffic safety for all road users.
The initiative enhances safety standards by eliminating the need for a manlift during
cleaning operations. It also reduces operational costs by limiting reliance on heavy
equipment, while supporting sustainability objectives through lower fuel and water
consumption and reduced emissions associated with conventional equipment.
Abdulla Ali Lootah, Director of Roads and Facilities Maintenance at Traffic and
Roads Agency, RTA, said that RTA continued to adopt advanced and innovative
technologies to enhance maintenance activities, sustain operational efficiency, and
ensure consistent performance across roads and related facilities in the Emirate. He
added that the pilot operation to deploy drones for cleaning traffic signals had
included a comparative assessment between the new technology and the traditional
method, focusing on time, cost, quality of execution, and compliance with safety
requirements.
Lootah added that the first phase had involved a series of trials at the Marrakech
Street–Rebat Street junction, where a limited traffic closure was implemented to
ensure the highest safety standards during the initial pilot phase. Preliminary results
demonstrated a reduction in operational time ranging from 25% to 50%, with the
drone completing the cleaning of a single side in just three to four minutes. The trials
also showed an estimated reduction in operational costs of up to 15% compared
with the traditional method, with projections indicating that this figure could rise to
25% in the future through the use of more advanced drone technologies.
Lootah emphasised the continuation of the pilot operation to ensure the effective
use of drone technologies in maintenance activities. He noted that the next phase
would assess the cleaning methodology, with a focus on achieving the highest
safety standards and avoiding any impact on traffic flow. These efforts will enhance
the quality of operational processes and further strengthen the performance of the
road infrastructure and network across the Emirate of Dubai.
