Saudi Arabia has officially launched the first phase of autonomous vehicle operations in Riyadh, rolling out smart cars across key locations in the capital, including King Khalid International Airport, major highways, and select city centre spots.
Part of the Kingdom’s broader push to create a high-tech, sustainable transport network, the pilot phase will see autonomous vehicles navigating real-world conditions with a safety officer on board each car. Safety officers will monitor performance, fine-tune systems, and ensure passenger safety in the first phases of the autonomous vehicle rollout, so don't fret.
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The initiative is backed by the Transport General Authority and ties into the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. It’s also the product of a multi-agency partnership involving the Ministries of Interior and Communications, the Saudi Data and AI Authority, and other key regulators and stakeholders.
Private sector players are in the driver’s seat too (literally). Uber, WeRide, and AiDriver are leading the tech and operations side of the rollout. Driverless Ubers are expected to hit the streets (fully autonomously) by the end of this year.
“Today, we’re proud to mark a key milestone in our ongoing commitment to helping drive the future of mobility in the Kingdom,” said Mohamed Jardaneh, Head of Autonomous Mobility Middle East at Uber. “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.”
Stay tuned for updates as the driverless revolution picks up speed.
More mobility in Saudi Arabia
The autonomous vehicle pilot is just one of several major transport upgrades sweeping Saudi Arabia. Riyadh recently debuted its long-awaited metro system—six fully operational lines now span more than 176 kilometres, connecting 85 stations across the capital, including a link to King Khalid International Airport (KKIA).
Meanwhile, Jeddah has turned to the sea. The newly launched Jeddah Water Taxi links three of the city’s most iconic waterfront destinations: the Jeddah Yacht Club, the Historic District of AlBalad, and the scenic shores of Sharm Obhur.
And there’s more to come. By 2026, the Kingdom plans to have autonomous flying taxis in full operation, connecting passengers to destinations like NEOM, AlUla, and Makkah. A successful test flight of an eVTOL vehicle over NEOM in June 2023 proved the concept is more than science fiction. The hope? To offer fully autonomous air mobility within two years, unlocking faster, more flexible movement between Saudi’s most exciting locations.
