Saudi initiates test runs for autonomous vehicles in Riyadh, in collaboration with Uber and WeRide.
Saudi Arabia has taken a significant step forward in the realm of autonomous mobility, as the first pilot phase of self-driving vehicles was launched in Riyadh in July 2025. This 12-month trial will see autonomous vehicles operating in real-world environments across seven key locations, including King Khalid International Airport, major highways, city centers, Roshn Business Front, Princess Nourah University, North Train Station, and more.
The pilot project is a collaborative effort between government bodies and technology partners, with the Transport General Authority (TGA) taking the lead. The partnership includes global giants such as Uber, WeRide, and AiDriver, with WeRide securing Saudi Arabia’s first autonomous driving license, making it the only company licensed to operate Robotaxi services across six countries.
WeRide's preparations for the launch were extensive, involving vehicle registration, localized model training, and extensive safety and technology validation. The regulatory sandbox program required stringent approval before the project could commence. By the end of 2025, full commercial Robotaxi operations in Riyadh are planned, following the successful completion of this pilot phase.
The goal of this ambitious project is to position Saudi Arabia as a leader in autonomous mobility in the region, and it forms part of a broader national rollout plan targeting 15% of public transport to be autonomous by 2030. It also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s framework to enable smart, AI-powered transportation and sustainable mobility, supported by infrastructure such as smart communication devices installed along roadways since August 2024.
The autonomous vehicles will operate under real-world conditions, with onboard safety officers monitoring system performance. They will span urban roads and major highways, and there are 13 pickup and drop-off points across seven areas in the city as part of the deployment.
Transport Minister Saleh Al-Jasser has stated that the project reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to enabling advanced technologies, sustainable mobility, and public-private innovation. WeRide is 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.
In addition to the Robotaxi services, WeRide has 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 company's vision for autonomous mobility in Saudi Arabia is certainly ambitious, and the successful completion of this pilot phase could pave the way for a future where autonomous vehicles are a common sight on the streets of Riyadh.
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- The ambitious project in Saudi Arabia, which involves autonomous vehicles, aligns with the nation's broader plan to have 15% of public transport be autonomous by 2030, and it also incorporates technology and finance, as it is a collaborative effort with global technology partners like WeRide and has integrated the fleet into Uber’s platform.
- The successful completion of the 12-month pilot phase of autonomous vehicles in Riyadh, operating in real-world environments across various locations, could potentially position Saudi Arabia as a leading country in autonomous mobility technology in the region, particularly in the transportation and finance sectors, as it plans for full commercial Robotaxi operations by the end of 2025.
