A planned $354m project in Dubai called "Sustainable City" has signed an agreement for an autonomous vehicle network.
Currently under construction by Diamond Developers, the 46ha project will contain 589 homes, a green school, a community centre, an equestrian centre, solar covered parking lots and an organic farm.
A fully solar-powered hotel was announced for the development in 2015.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority signed a memorandum of understanding with the city for the operation of autonomous vehicles in the area from February 2018.
The deal is part of the Dubai government’s plan to convert 25% of the emirate’s public transport system to autonomous vehicles by 2030.
Abdullah Yousef Al Ali, deputy chairman of Dubai’s Autonomous Vehicles Committee, said: "The memorandum underscores RTA’s commitment to engage in partnerships with public and private sectors to realise its strategic, smart mobility objectives."
Sustainable City will be surrounded by a "green buffer zone", consisting of 2,500 trees scattered in multiple layers, purifying the air coming into the area.
The car free city aims to produce its own energy and recover its costs over four years.
Work on the city started in 2013 and is due to be completed later this year
Top image courtesy of the Sustainable City website
