Saudi Arabia has taken a bold step toward the future of mobility with the launch of its first autonomous taxi service in the capital city of Riyadh. The Robotaxi pilot program, powered by Chinese tech company WeRide, officially began operations this week and is being hailed as a milestone in the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 strategy to modernize its transport infrastructure.

Over the next year, Robotaxi vehicles will operate across seven key locations in Riyadh, including King Khalid International Airport (Terminals 2 and 5), Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, the Roshn Business Front, and several major city highways. To support the program, 13 dedicated pick-up and drop-off stations have been established across the city.

The vehicles are equipped with cutting-edge real-time navigation systems, motion sensors, and AI-powered decision-making tools that allow for intelligent and safe driving in urban environments.

“This is a foundational step toward making our cities smarter, more connected, and more sustainable,” said Dr. Omaima Bamasak, Deputy Director of Traffic Development at the Saudi Transport General Authority.

During the pilot phase, each Robotaxi will include a human safety operator on board, but future phases aim for fully autonomous, human-free operation.

The launch of Robotaxi in Riyadh marks a major move for Saudi Arabia as it positions itself as a hub for AI-driven, sustainable urban innovation, aligning with global trends and strengthening partnerships with international tech leaders like WeRide.

This initiative is not only expected to improve transportation efficiency but also to pave the way for wider adoption of autonomous mobility throughout the Kingdom in the years to come.

photo: (X @WeRide_ai)