Saudi Arabia has launched the first pilot phase of autonomous vehicles in Riyadh, with the initial fleet now operating across major public areas including King Khalid International Airport, Princess Nourah University, and other key locations. The initiative is part of the country’s broader strategy to develop a smart transport ecosystem aligned with Vision 2030.
Led by the Transport General Authority (TGA), the pilot will run for 12 months, during which the autonomous vehicles will operate under real-world conditions with onboard safety officers. The deployment spans urban roads and major highways and includes 13 pickup and drop-off points across seven areas in the city.
The pilot is backed by several government bodies including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Communications and IT, the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), and the Geospatial Authority. Technology and operations partners include Uber and China-based WeRide, which is supplying the autonomous vehicles.
WeRide is also integrating the fleet into Uber’s platform, making Riyadh the third city globally, after Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where the two companies are jointly operating Robotaxi services. The goal is to move from pilot to full commercial operations by the end of 2025.
The Transport Minister Saleh Al-Jasser said the project reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to enabling advanced technologies, sustainable mobility, and public-private innovation. Officials view it as a model for regulatory and technical frameworks that can support a broader national rollout.
WeRide noted that it completed regulatory approvals, vehicle registration, and localized model training ahead of the launch, marking Saudi Arabia’s first officially licensed Robotaxi service. It has also been expanding its portfolio in the Kingdom, with autonomous minibuses and street-cleaning vehicles already deployed at sites like King Fahad Medical City and Aramco residential communities.
The Riyadh pilot is a key step in Saudi Arabia’s push to localize innovation and advance AI-powered transport solutions across the country.
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