Saudi Arabia is racing towards the mobility future with plans to launch autonomous taxis in Riyadh in Q1 2025, as part of a larger roll-out across five tech-driven cities. The Ministry of Transport announced the shortlisted cities—Riyadh, NEOM, Jeddah, Dammam, and AlUla—will act as testing sites for autonomous vehicle (AV) networks built in partnership with Chinese tech firm Baidu and California’s Cruise.
The AV Revolution Roadmap
Phase 1 (2025): Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District to receive 100 robocabs built on the Lexus RX450h platform
Phase 2 (2026): Residents of NEOM’s THE LINE become the first to enjoy autonomous door-to-door travel
Phase 3 (2027): Intercity AV routes linking Jeddah and Mecca through smart highways
Safety First:
All cars will be equipped with L4 autonomy (human-overridable full self-driving) and Hajj mode powered by AI to support religious tourist requirements. The technology guarantees 40% cheaper fares than traditional ride-hailing via optimized routes.
Why It Matters:
This makes Saudi Arabia the first Gulf state to have running robotaxis, bypassing Dubai’s more conservative strategy. The action supports Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision to cut car ownership by 30% in large cities by 2030.
