Urban.MASS CEO Kevin O'Grady showcases Floc® Duo Rail™ System at Dubai’s new global hub for transport innovation

2024/03/07

London, 7^th March 2024 – Urban.MASS has once again been in the global transit spotlight, as CEO, Kevin O'Grady presented the groundbreaking Floc® Duo Rail™ system to Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai at the new Transportation Research and Innovation Pavilion (TRIP) at the University of Birmingham Dubai. TRIP was launched by RTA in February in a move that emphasises Dubai’s position as a global incubator for the businesses, researchers and start-ups developing the most innovative, viable solutions to new and emerging transport challenges.

Urban.MASS has signed a landmark agreement with RTA to pioneer the deployment of the Floc® Duo Rail™ system in the city, with plans to coincide its launch with the 200-year anniversary of rail in late 2025. The ambitious vision will position Dubai as a frontrunner in innovative, sustainable transportation and propel the worldwide adoption of the concept.

The Floc® Duo Rail™ system, featuring driverless, electrically-powered pods on elevated tracks, provides a 50% reduction in carbon emissions compared to urban off-road alternatives. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Urban.MASS is committed to driving positive environmental impact and sustainability through its innovative solutions. This partnership aims to support Dubai Vision 2033, highlighting the role of autonomous and electric vehicles in helping to establish the city as a knowledge-based, sustainable and innovation-centric global hub.

“It was a great honour to meet with and present our Floc® Duo Rail™ solution to Mattar Al Tayer at the new TRIP. At Urban.MASS, we’re on a mission to revolutionise urban mobility and drive the global transition towards low carbon mass transit solutions. To have the support of such a respected global leader in transport, and to have the MoU in place to deliver our first system here in Dubai, is a landmark for the low carbon transit industry.”

- Kevin O'Grady, CEO, Urban.MASS

Adding to the momentum, Urban.MASS recently unveiled its technology licensing strategy, signalling a further expansion of the company's influence and reach in the global transit landscape. Leveraging strategic collaborations with industry giants such as Lotus Group, Fleetonomy.ai, SEMP, Grimshaw, Atelier One, WSP, and Kinetic Solutions Group, Urban.MASS is now poised to offer its cutting-edge technology to cities, developers, and transit authorities worldwide.

“Urban.MASS continues to surge ahead with the technology licensing strategy. We’re completing our fundraising round and we’re now in a position to licence our technology to qualifying cities, developers and transit authorities around the world. With the market for public listed transit projects estimated at over $800 billion, the investment potential is undeniable – piloting the Floc® Duo Rail™ system in Dubai is a forward-thinking, strategic move by the government to be first to demonstrate the system in action.”

- Ricky Sandhu, Co-Founder of Urban.MASS

This key strategic relationship has been supported by the UK Government, with the first agreement signed in the presence of Mark Harper MP, Secretary of State for Transport and the second by Oliver Christian, British Consul General to Dubai and HM Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan. Urban.MASS’s presence at TRIP demonstrates Dubai’s leadership in bringing together industry, academia and government decision-makers to address future global challenges holistically and effectively.

Notes to Editors:

• About Urban.MASS: A UK-based mobility business focused on the design and delivery of innovative, zero-emission mass transit solutions. Urban.MASS was founded to create affordable, accessible and connected mass transit for all, and to reduce congestion and pollution from passenger and cargo transport. Products include the Floc® Duo Rail® system, a flexible transit system that can match capacity with demand via high frequency ‘platoons’ of passenger and/or cargo logistics pods. Its narrow and flexible footprint minimises the need for earthworks, costly tunnels and large stations. https://urbanmass.co.uk/about-us.php
• Technology licensing: The firm’s technology licensing strategy builds on early partnerships with manufacturers, mission control system developers, systems engineers, station architects, engineering and track design and electro-mechanical systems. Key collaborators to date have included Lotus Group, Fleetonomy.ai, SEMP, Grimshaw, Atelier One, WSP and Kinetic Solutions Group. With this network, the Urban.MASS team has built a powerful, industry-leading ecosystem from which to deliver the next generation of low carbon mass transit. Architects, OEMs, real estate developers, city and transport authorities and airport mobility providers interested in finding out more or licensing the technology can contact the team: https://www.urbanmass.co.uk/contact.php
• About Transportation Research and Innovation Pavilion (TRIP): https://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/rta-opens-transportation-research-and-innovation-pavilion-at-university-of-birmingham-dubai-2023-02-20-1.701989?ot=ot.AMPPageLayout