Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday that it has launched the initial operational phase of autonomous vehicles in Riyadh. This milestone marks a significant step aimed at enabling advanced technology and expanding the development of a smart and safe transportation ecosystem in the Kingdom.
The initiative, launched by Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of the Board of the Transport General Authority Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, aligns with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and is an extension of Saudi Vision 2030 towards adopting sustainable mobility solutions powered by the latest artificial intelligence technologies.
Autonomous vehicles to operate in several key locations across Riyadh
The autonomous vehicles in this phase will operate within a real-world environment covering Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport and several key locations across Riyadh, including major highways and selected city center destinations.
This phase is implemented under the direct regulatory and technical supervision of the Transport General Authority. During this phase, the vehicles will transport passengers with a safety officer onboard each vehicle to ensure safety and monitor the performance of smart systems in actual operating conditions.
The deployment of autonomous vehicles in Riyadh is the result of an integrated partnership that brings together the transport and logistics ecosystem and relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology ecosystem, the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), and the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information.
Other key participants include the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), in addition to private sector partners represented by technology and operations partners Uber, WeRide and AiDriver.
“Today, we’re proud to mark a key milestone in our ongoing commitment to helping drive the future of mobility in the Kingdom. Our partnership with the Transport General Authority- alongside our technology partner WeRide, on this pilot is an important first step toward making autonomous vehicles a reality in one of the most promising countries globally for AV adoption,” said Mohamed Jardaneh, head of autonomous mobility Middle East at Uber.
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Saudi Arabia advances transport system
Al-Jasser affirmed that the launch of this initial operational phase reflects the Kingdom’s ambitious vision to build a smart and integrated transport system that supports economic growth and enhances quality of life. He emphasized that enabling modern technologies and developing regulatory and operational frameworks are key pillars to expanding the implementation of this technology and supporting the transformation of the transport sector.
This autonomous vehicles initiative is also an extension of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to promote sustainability, improve mobility efficiency and localize innovation. He highlighted that this project represents a pioneering model of public-private partnership, paving the way for a future of safer and smarter mobility.
