Saudi Arabia has announced a trial of the Kingdom’s first electric self-driving car.
The country-first trial looks to introduce self-driving cars as a way of reducing accidents, improving transport and helping the environment.
The Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics, Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih, launched the trial phase of Dhahaina (Smart), a new autonomous vehicle (AV) at the Riyadh Business Front.
Self-driving car in Saudi Arabia
The launch event was intended to boost awareness and increase acceptance of AV technology in society and is the first step in in a longer process that will see the development of AV legislation, regulations, and supporting systems.
The AV initiative is in line with the Saudi Ministry’s efforts to facilitate and embrace contemporary transportation systems.
Al-Rumaih highlighted the Ministry’s embrace of innovative transportation techniques, and its plans to utilise advanced technologies in the transportation and logistics industry, as per the objectives set in the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.
This strategy aims to provide solutions for smart mobility and anticipate the future development of the market. By launching this trial, the Ministry aims to reduce the number of transport-related accidents and fatalities, improve intracity mobility, and minimise the impact of the transportation sector on the environment.
The inauguration occurred at the Riyadh Business Front, owned by the ROSHN Group, which is taking a novel approach to incorporating modern technology into the integrated communities it is building across the Kingdom.
ROSHN promotes sustainability by offering pedestrian-friendly streets and eco-friendly modes of transportation for commuting within its communities, while providing connections to a wide range of public and private transportation options that connect its customers to the wider city.
Oussama Kabbani, the Group Chief Development Officer at ROSHN Group, said: “The Dhahaina initiative is a significant leap in the technical development of transportation in the Kingdom. This trial aligns with ROSHN’s commitment to humanising the civil experience and adapting technology to serve people within the high-quality real estate environments of our communities across the Kingdom.”
Al-Rumaih, meanwhile, emphasised that these trials align with the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services’ ongoing efforts to establish a national regulatory framework for AVs in collaboration with relevant entities.
The primary objective is to unify efforts and establish appropriate regulatory frameworks to enable autonomous vehicles while prioritising user safety, simplifying procedures, and attracting investors.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics is striving to enable various modern technologies in all transport sectors, including land, rail, sea, air, and logistics services, through their initiative to embrace new transportation methods.
It aims to develop suitable regulatory frameworks for each technology, conduct phased experiments, empower the private sector, attract investors, and enhance the technical capacity of the workforce by partnering with universities and educational institutions.
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