The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially announced the launch of the first pilot phase for operating self-driving vehicles in the capital, Riyadh, as part of its ambitious Saudi Vision 2030.

Self-driving taxis will begin operating and transporting passengers in 7 vital areas in Riyadh, including King Khalid International Airport, Princess Nora University, and several main roads in the city center.

The operation is a partnership with global companies such as WeRide, Uber, and AiDriver, which handle the operational and booking processes, while Saudi Arabia oversees their safe functioning and the secure application of safety standards.

These vehicles are fully autonomous and do not require a human driver. Their AI models analyze images from cameras, radars, and advanced sensors to make immediate decisions. However, the initial pilot phase mandates the presence of a human safety driver inside the vehicle who monitors the system and is ready to intervene at any moment to ensure complete safety.

This trial phase will last 12 months to test the vehicles' performance under real-world conditions with strict supervision and control before moving to widespread commercial application. During this time, the smart systems' ability to function correctly in real-life situations will be tested, and their adaptability to the challenges of driving on Saudi roads, including interactions with other vehicles and pedestrians, will be evaluated.

The vehicles are under strict supervision from the Public Transport Authority to ensure regulatory compliance with local and international safety standards, paving the way for future legislation that guarantees the safe integration of these technologies.

This project is the result of close cooperation between multiple government entities and leading private sector companies. On the government side, the Public Transport Authority, SDAIA (Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority), the Ministry of Interior, and the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information are all participating. From the private sector, companies like WeRide, a leading Chinese company in developing Level 4 autonomous vehicles, play a vital role in providing the core technologies. Uber also participates, in collaboration with platforms like Pony.ai, to offer its expertise in smart transportation services, while AiDriver contributes its specialized experience in developing AI systems for autonomous vehicles.

This "pilot phase" is just the beginning; it's a crucial and necessary step to ensure that this technology is safe, effective, and suitable for the local environment, paving the way for a near future where self-driving vehicles become a natural and familiar part of our daily lives.