Brief
Dubai RTA Grants $100,000 to Jordan Bus Project and Dh240,000 to UAE Student Teams
The 14th Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport recognised a Jordanian BRT system and six UAE student solutions with cash prizes.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced cash awards at the 14th Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport (DAST) on 16 October 2026. The ceremony, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, saw Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum present a $100,000 prize to the Greater Amman Municipality in Jordan and Dh240,000 in cash to six UAE student projects.
What happened
The RTA awarded $100,000 to the Greater Amman Municipality for its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which integrates BRT and Amman Bus services across nine routes, 215 kilometres, and a fleet of 193 buses. The network has carried 73.9 million passengers to date, averaging 2.1 million per month, and plans a Phase Two expansion of more than 43 kilometres and three new routes.
In the student categories, Dh240,000 was split among six projects. Shamas Abdulraouf of The Indian School, Abu Dhabi won the Outstanding Student Solutions Award for “Empty Miles,” an AI platform that matches spare vehicle capacity with transport demand. Ali Humaid Alloghani of Al Rushed American School, Sharjah placed second for “Bio‑Smart Transit Hubs,” which use micro‑algae, AI and solar energy to clean air at bus stops. Meherab Hossain of Gulf Asian English School, Sharjah and his team took third for “Project Phantom,” a drone‑based environmental monitoring system.
Other student winners included Yousef Al Badawi of Ajman University, who earned first place in the NextGen for Mobility Award for “Smart Solar Pedestrian Nodes,” a solar‑shade crossing that harvests water and adjusts timing for crowd density and People of Determination. Lauren De Souza of Middlesex University Dubai placed second for “Koko's Day Out,” an interactive sensory book helping autistic children prepare for public transport.
What was said
The award ceremony was chaired by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, who highlighted the projects’ impact on sustainability and inclusivity. The DAST programme, launched by the RTA in 2008 under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, continues to promote innovative transport solutions across the region.
How it came about
The DAST competition was created to encourage research and development in sustainable mobility. Previous Felo News coverage has tracked UAE student innovation, such as the bio‑fertiliser project reported on 25 September 2026 (UAE Students Convert Chicken Feathers into Biofertiliser). The current awards build on that momentum, showcasing how student‑led technology is being recognised alongside municipal transport projects.
Key facts
- The Greater Amman Municipality received a $100,000 award for its BRT system. (gulfnews.com)
- Six UAE student projects shared Dh240,000 in cash prizes. (gulfnews.com)
- The BRT network operates 193 buses on nine routes covering 215 km. (gulfnews.com)
- Phase Two of the Amman BRT will add over 43 km and three new routes. (gulfnews.com)
- Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the awards. (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “Dubai RTA Awards $100,000 to Jordan's Bus Project, Dh240,000 to UAE Students for Sustainable Transport Innovations”
