AI on Track: How Dubai Metro Is Revolutionizing Rail Infrastructure with ARIIS
Dubai Metro embraces AI-powered innovation with ARIIS, slashing inspection time, boosting safety, and paving the way for smarter, more sustainable urban mobility.
The RTA’s cutting-edge AI system slashes inspection time, boosts safety, and aligns with Dubai’s Smart City vision for a future-ready public transport network.
In a bold step towards smarter, safer, and more sustainable urban mobility, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has unveiled the Automated Rail Infrastructure Inspection System (ARIIS)—a revolutionary AI-powered robotic solution poised to redefine maintenance operations for the Dubai Metro.
Developed in collaboration with Keolis MHI and Future Maintenance Technologies (FMT), ARIIS reflects Dubai’s growing ambition to lead the world in artificial intelligence and intelligent infrastructure solutions.
“The introduction of ARIIS represents another leap forward in maintaining one of the world’s most advanced and safest public transport systems,” said Abdul Mohsin Kalbat, CEO of RTA’s Rail Agency. “Dubai is proud to lead in smart solutions that improve the reliability and efficiency of the Metro.”
Smarter Systems for a Smarter City
At the heart of ARIIS is a suite of cutting-edge technologies—LiDAR sensors, lasers, and 3D cameras—that enable autonomous, high-precision inspection of rail tracks and critical infrastructure components. Crucially, it performs these inspections without disrupting daily metro operations, aligning perfectly with Dubai’s Smart City strategy and its commitment to seamless urban mobility.
According to David Franks, Managing Director of Keolis MHI, ARIIS is a “milestone achievement” that transforms infrastructure maintenance by enhancing safety, supporting data-driven decisions, and boosting operational efficiency.
FMT CEO Loic Ayoul echoed the sentiment, adding that this AI-powered system “significantly enhances railway infrastructure performance, safety, and sustainability for Dubai Metro.”
Transformative Benefits of ARIIS
Enhanced Safety: ARIIS reduces the need for manual inspections by up to 70% and improves infrastructure assessment capabilities by 40%.
Efficiency at Scale: The automation slashes inspection duration by approximately 75%, reducing 2,400 man-hours to just 700.
Predictive Maintenance: AI-driven insights enable proactive strategies that extend infrastructure lifespan and cut lifecycle maintenance costs by up to 25%.
Smarter Decisions: Real-time analytics improve resource efficiency by 40%, minimizing unnecessary interventions and increasing response agility.
Future-Ready Mobility
Beyond the impressive technical specifications, ARIIS supports broader objectives—namely, promoting sustainability, enhancing quality of life, and positioning Dubai as a global hub for smart mobility and infrastructure innovation.
With ARIIS now in operation, Dubai Metro is not only elevating rail safety and performance but also setting a new global benchmark in how artificial intelligence can be leveraged for large-scale public transport systems.
As the city continues to evolve, intelligent infrastructure like ARIIS will be instrumental in shaping a future where efficiency, safety, and innovation travel hand-in-hand.
