The first electric self-driving car testing in the Kingdom has been declared by Saudi Arabia. Self-driving vehicles will be tested for the first time in the country in an effort to decrease accidents, enhance transportation, and benefit the environment. At the Riyadh Business Front, Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih, the deputy minister of transportation and logistics, officially began the testing phase of the new autonomous vehicle (AV), named “Dhahaina” which means “Smart”.

Al-Rumaih said that the experiment is compatible with the ministry's ongoing efforts to work with relevant groups in order to build a national regulatory system for autonomous vehicles (AVs). The main objective is to coordinate efforts and set up acceptable regulations that will make the incorporation of AVs easier.

Autonomous Vehicles in Saudi Arabia

The largest economy in the Arab world, Saudi Arabia, is currently putting its huge economic diversification plan, called Vision 2030, into action. The AV effort is consistent with the mission of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, which aims to offer smart mobility solutions and forecast Saudi Arabia's market's future growth.

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Transport seeks to reduce the number of transportation-related accidents and fatalities, improve intracity mobility, and lessen the impact of the transportation industry on the environment. To achieve these goals, the Ministry has developed the National Transport and Logistics Strategy to address the challenges of smart mobility and anticipate future market developments. These goals motivated the Ministry to start this trial.

The ceremony took place at the Riyadh Business Front, which belongs to the ROSHN Group and has developed an innovative strategy for incorporating modern technology into the integrated communities it is constructing around the country. In addition to providing access to a variety of public and private transportation alternatives that connect its consumers to the larger city, ROSHN encourages sustainability by providing pedestrian-friendly streets and environmentally friendly means of transportation for commuting inside its neighborhoods.

In expressing his eagerness to work with the ministry, Oussama Kabbani, group chief development officer of ROSHN Group, said: "The 'Dhahaina' program represents a huge leap in the technical growth of transportation in the country.

Future Strategy

Al-Rumaih further emphasized how these trials are in line with the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services' continuous efforts to create, in cooperation with relevant organizations, a national regulatory framework for AVs.

The main goal is to coordinate initiatives and build suitable laws to enable AVs while putting user safety first, streamlining processes, and attracting investors.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Transport and Logistics is adopting initiatives to implement new transportation technologies in order to integrate various kinds of modern technology into all transportation sectors, including land, rail, sea, air, and logistics services.

Additionally, it seeks to engage with universities and educational institutions to build appropriate legal frameworks for each technology, carry out staged experiments, empower the private sector, draw in investors, and improve the technical proficiency of the workforce.

By 2030, Saudi Arabia wants 15% of its public transportation vehicles to be autonomous as the country strives to pave the way for new forms of transportation.

By 2030, the market for autonomous vehicles is expected to be worth more than $1.8 trillion, up from around $94.4 billion in 2021, expanding at a compound annual rate of over 39%.

Saudi Arabia Introduces Its First Autonomous Vehicle