Abu Dhabi tests driverless cars in Masdar City
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Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City has launched testing for Level 4 autonomous vehicles (AVs), marking a significant step in the emirate’s strategy for smart and sustainable transportation. The pilot is being conducted in collaboration with smart mobility provider Solutions+, a Mubadala company and is overseen by the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC).
The initiative includes vehicle registration, safety validation, and operational approvals to ensure full compliance with Abu Dhabi’s evolving framework for intelligent transport. It aligns with the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council’s (SASC) broader strategy to accelerate innovation in mobility.
Level 4 automation represents a major advancement in autonomous driving. Vehicles at this level can operate independently within designated geofenced areas, without human intervention under normal conditions. In this pilot, the AVs are currently accompanied by safety officers onboard but are expected to transition toward full autonomy, managed remotely from a centralised control room.
The test route spans 2.4 kilometers and connects key locations across Masdar City, including the Siemens building, North Car Park, My City Centre Masdar mall, and Central Park. Along the way, the AVs pass notable landmarks such as the International Renewable Energy Agency headquarters, MC2 and The Link.
The initiative reinforces Masdar City’s status as a global clean-tech hub and the home of the Smart Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster. It also demonstrates the city's role in pioneering advanced transport solutions.
“The announcement of level 4 testing marks a substantial leap forward in AV capabilities and we are proud that Masdar City is once again leading the field in the development of such a critical future technology”, said Ahmed Baghoum, CEO of Masdar City.
Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, acting director-general of the ITC, added, “This initiative marks a key milestone in Abu Dhabi’s vision to embrace future transport technologies and reaffirms our commitment to providing an integrated regulatory environment that supports innovation and accelerates the adoption of smart mobility solutions".
