DUBAI: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has announced that Dubai Taxi Corp. has added Tesla Model 3 to its taxi fleet for a trial after operating 172 Tesla vehicles since 2017, according to the Dubai Media Office. During the trial run, the vehicle will be deployed on the emirate’s taxi fleet to test its efficiency. Mattar Al-Tayer, director general and RTA’s board chairman, said: “In 2017, RTA started the operation of 172 Tesla vehicles as part of the limousine fleet of the Dubai Taxi comprising 80 Tesla Model S, 50 Tesla Model X, and 42 Tesla Model 3,” he said. Al-Tayer noted that these vehicles were highly efficient, especially in terms of carbon emissions and customer satisfaction. “The success of that experiment prompted us to widen the scope of using electric vehicles as part of the Dubai Taxi fleet over the upcoming years,” he said. In his view, the experiment supports Dubai’s effort to transform 90 percent of its limo fleet into eco-friendly vehicles by 2026. Circular economy transition As part of its drive toward sustainable economic development, the UAE has approved 22 policies aimed at accelerating the country’s transition to a circular economy. According to the government, the UAE Circular Economy Council’s policies will cover four main sectors: Manufacturing, food, infrastructure, and transportation. Furthermore, the council identified 16 circular economy activities that offer opportunities for businesses, such as upcycling textile waste into new products and developing AI-driven waste management solutions. Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Minister of State for Food Security Mariam Almheiri said: “Our current linear economy consumes valuable materials and resources without being able to benefit from them after use, which represents waste in the modern concept of sustainability.” “Our approach seeks to protect our environment and to ensure the long-term economic and social prosperity of our country,” she added. Circular economies focus on reducing the extraction of natural resources, minimizing waste, and restoring natural systems. Renewable energy sources fuel economic activity by maintaining the value of raw materials, components, and products.