Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has started a pilot programme using drones to clean traffic signals, improving safety, cutting costs and supporting sustainability.
Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched an innovative pilot operation to clean traffic signals across Dubai using drone technology. The initiative reflects RTA’s commitment to adopting advanced, future‑focused solutions that enhance service quality, boost operational efficiency, and improve traffic safety for all road users.
The use of drones will eliminate the need for traditional manlift equipment during cleaning operations, reducing reliance on heavy machinery and the associated fuel, water use and emissions. This supports Dubai’s sustainability goals while lowering overall operational costs.
Abdulla Ali Lootah, Director of Roads and Facilities Maintenance at the RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, said the authority continues to implement advanced technologies to strengthen maintenance activities and ensure consistent performance across roads and transport facilities in the emirate. He noted that the pilot involved a comparative assessment of drone cleaning versus traditional methods, focusing on time, cost, quality of execution and adherence to safety standards.
The first phase of trials took place at the Marrakech Street–Rebat Street junction, where a temporary traffic closure was used to maintain high safety levels during the initial tests. Preliminary results showed that drones reduced operational time by between 25 and 50 percent, with a drone able to clean one side of a traffic signal in just three to four minutes.
The trials also indicated an estimated 15 percent reduction in operational costs compared with the conventional method. RTA projects this figure could rise to 25 percent as more advanced drone technologies are deployed in later phases of the pilot.
Lootah emphasised that the pilot will continue to ensure that drone technology is effectively integrated into maintenance work. The next phase will assess the cleaning methodology while maintaining strict safety standards and minimising any impact on traffic flow.
RTA said these efforts will enhance the quality of operational processes and further strengthen the performance of Dubai’s road infrastructure and traffic network, marking another step in the emirate’s smart city transformation.
