Dubai’s First Electric Buses Are Here - Smart, Green, and Ready to Roll

Dubai is stepping into the future of public transport - quietly, cleanly, and fully charged. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has unveiled its first batch of 250 buses, including 40 cutting-edge electric buses, marking the UAE’s largest electric bus rollout to date.

“This is more than a bus launch, it’s a step toward climate neutrality by 2050,” says Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the RTA. The authority aims to gradually convert all buses, taxis, and limousines in Dubai to electric and hydrogen power, supporting the ambitious Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the city’s zero-emission future.

The star of the fleet is a 12-metre Zhongtong electric bus, designed to tackle Dubai’s streets head-on. With a single-charge range of 280 km, it can run a full day without stopping at the depot. The bus packs a 434-kWh battery, a 360-degree camera system, and tech to track driver performance and passenger counts, all to improve efficiency, safety, and convenience.

Passengers won’t just be saving the planet, they’ll ride in comfort, too. Features include low-floor access for the disabled, dedicated family seating, bicycle spaces, Wi-Fi, and mobile charging points.

Each bus is fitted with a driver behaviour monitor to track and improve driving performance, an automated passenger counting system linked to the fare collection system to curb fare evasion, and a driver identity authentication system integrated with the operating platform, making safety and operational efficiency smarter than ever.

Tested locally for over three months, the buses proved their reliability in Dubai’s unique climate, and the RTA says more electric buses will roll out gradually over the next few years. By 2050, Dubai plans to make all its public transport completely zero-emission, positioning the city as a global leader in sustainable urban mobility.

The era of electric buses in Dubai isn’t just coming - it’s already rolling.