Riyadh 00:58London 21:58New York 17:58Tokyo 06:58
Saturday, 31 October 2026AboutAdvertiseContact

Ras Al Khaimah launches autonomous vehicle testing hub

The emirate has opened a dedicated facility for self-driving technology trials and expanded RoboTaxi services to a new area.

city skyline across the sea during daytime
Illustrative image. Photo: Nick Fewings on Unsplash

At a glance

  • Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority launched the Autonomous Vehicle Sandbox initiative for testing self-driving technologies
  • RoboTaxi trials have expanded to Al Dhait South following earlier testing on Al Marjan Island
  • Test vehicles have covered over 21,000 kilometres during initial phases
  • The initiative aims to attract international autonomous vehicle and smart mobility companies

Ras Al Khaimah has established a testing facility for autonomous vehicles and expanded its RoboTaxi programme to Al Dhait South. The Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority unveiled the Autonomous Vehicle Sandbox initiative, designed to provide an environment for testing self-driving technologies and attracting international companies in the autonomous mobility sector.

The expansion follows initial trials that began on Al Marjan Island in early 2026. During testing phases, the vehicles have covered more than 21,000 kilometres, generating operational data to assess their performance in real-world conditions.

Why it matters

The development supports the emirate's plans to build a future transport network using autonomous vehicle technology.

Original reporting

This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.