Watch: Saudi starts testing driverless vehicles in Riyadh

As the Gulf region accelerates its shift toward smart and sustainable transportation, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, July 23, launched the pilot phase of autonomous vehicles in Riyadh.

In the initial phase, these driveless vehicles, which can reach a maximum speed of 100kmph, will operate in seven locations in the Kingdom's capital, including the King Khalid International Airport. There will be 13 designated pick-up and drop-off points.

During the pilot phase, the vehicles will transport passengers with a safety officer on board each vehicle to ensure safety and monitor the performance of the smart systems in real-world conditions. The pilot phase will be for 12 months.

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According to Saudi's Transport General Authority (TGA), The project is the result of a comprehensive partnership between the Kingdom’s transport and logistics system and key government and private sector entities.

Watch the video below:

برعاية معالي وزير النقل والخدمات اللوجستية @SalehAlJasser

الهيئة العامة للنقل تطلق المرحلة التطبيقية الأولية للمركبات ذاتية القيادة

Under the patronage of H.E. @SalehAlJasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics Services

TGA launches the initial operational phase of autonomous… pic.twitter.com/1BjmGqHT5N

— الهيئة العامة للنقل | TGA (@Saudi_TGA) July 23, 2025

These include the Ministry of Interior, the Digital Economy, Space, and Innovation System, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information, and the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organisation.

The private sector is represented by leading technology and operational partners — Uber, WeRide, and AiDriver,

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