RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has started the initial pilot phase of self-driving vehicles in Riyadh, marking a major milestone in the Kingdom’s progress towards developing smart, AI-driven transportation systems.
Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of the Transport General Authority, Engineer Saleh Al-Jasser, inaugurated the programme on Wednesday, highlighting its significance in enabling advanced technologies and fostering a safe, intelligent transport ecosystem, according to a report of Saudi Gazette.
The pilot will be implemented in real-world environments across seven key locations in Riyadh, including airport terminals. A total of 13 designated pick-up and drop-off points have been identified.
This initiative is the result of cross-sector collaboration involving the Ministry of Interior, the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information, along with private sector partners such as AiDriver, WeRide, and Uber.
It highlights Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fostering innovation locally and advancing public-private partnerships.
Over the 12-month pilot phase, the self-driving vehicles will operate on major motorways and urban roads, closely monitored by onboard safety officers and under the direct supervision of the Transport General Authority.
Al-Jasser described the initiative as a reflection of the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainable mobility and economic development, calling it “a model for smart and secure transport partnerships.”
The Authority says that the pilot programme serves as a foundational step towards a wider national deployment, with the goal of establishing Saudi Arabia as a regional leader in autonomous mobility.
