UAE Vice-President and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has approved the design of the AED335m ($91.2m) enterprise command and control centre, or EC3, for Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA).

The EC3 will provide integrated management of mobility and public transport infrastructure within the emirate and is understood to be one of the key infrastructure requirements in delivering the Expo 2020.

It will link the various control centres of RTA’s operational agencies including the Dubai Metro, tram, public transport, taxis and traffic systems, RTA said in a statement.

The EC3 is designed to become one of Dubai’s city landmarks. The overall facility will cover an area of 6,996 square metres with a total floor area of 10,900 square metres. The control room, which will  host numerous servers, screens, cameras and network equipment, will cover an area of 430 square metres and will have a 13 metres high ceiling.

The rest of the facility will comprise office spaces, an auditorium, and a press centre in addition to four utility buildings. It will also aim to achieve gold LEED certification.

Apart from linking all of the RTA’s operational units, the centre will eventually link with external entities that are associated with the RTA.

According to Mattar al-Tayer, RTA director-general and chairman, the EC3 is expected to play an important role in the emirate’s transformation into a smart city, particularly in terms of a more efficient public transport system, especially in view of hosting global events such as the Expo 2020.