Autonomous vehicles hit the tarmac at Dubai World Central

A fleet of autonomous vehicles have been deployed to support ramp operations at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International airport (DWC).

The global air and travel services provider, dnata, has rolled out six electric, self-driving baggage tractors at DWC, designed to tow luggage containers between aircraft and terminal buildings — a job traditionally done by human drivers.

These autonomous vehicles, developed by TractEasy (EZTow model), can carry up to four baggage containers at once, travelling at speeds of up to 15 km per hour along pre-set routes. The move is expected to improve efficiency, safety and turnaround times on the ground.

Staff who previously handled baggage transport are now being reassigned to more complex tasks, while automation helps reduce human error and streamline operations.

The project, valued at AED 6 million, currently operates at Level 3 autonomy with minimal oversight. dnata plans to upgrade to Level 4 self-driving capability by early 2026.

This initiative is also being used as a testbed to help shape future airport operations, especially as DWC prepares for massive expansion.

The airport is set to become the largest in the world, with the capacity to handle up to 260 million passengers a year.