Saudi Arabia begins pilot phase of self-driving taxis in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia has launched the pilot phase of its first self-driving taxi program in Riyadh. The move is part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan to modernise transport and adopt artificial intelligence.

The 12-month trial began on Wednesday. It will run at seven key locations across the capital. These include King Khalid International Airport (Terminals 2 and 5), Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, the Roshn Business Front and major connecting highways. Thirteen pick-up and drop-off points have been set up for the trial.

The program was officially launched by Eng. Saleh Al Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Public Transport Authority. He called the project a “qualitative leap” and said it supports Saudi Arabia’s goals for a smart, sustainable and integrated transport system. He also highlighted the importance of sustainability, efficiency and local innovation. He described the pilot as a model of public-private partnership.

The initiative is led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). It is supported by several national and international organisations. These include the Ministry of Interior, the Digital Economy, Space and Innovation System, the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.

Private companies such as AiDriver, WeRide and Uber are also part of the project. The trial combines regulatory, academic and business expertise.

The self-driving taxis are operating under the supervision of the General Transport Authority. They are being tested in real urban conditions. Each taxi has a safety officer onboard to monitor the system and ensure passenger safety.

This project is seen as a major step in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to use technology to improve daily life and develop future-ready transport solutions.