Riyadh To Launch Self-Driving Taxis Soon
Dr. Omaimah Bamasag, deputy of transport enablement at the Transport General Authority (TGA), made the announcement during a panel at the UJ 2025 Artificial Intelligence Conference, held at the University of Jeddah. The session, titled 'Smarter cities, smarter services: How artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are reshaping the future,' highlighted the Kingdom's ambitious efforts to embed emerging technologies into its public infrastructure.
'This will represent a qualitative step toward a smart and sustainable future in the transportation sector,' Dr. Bamasag said.
The rollout in Riyadh is part of a larger vision: five cities across Saudi Arabia have now been designated as 'self-driving friendly,' equipped with the digital and physical infrastructure necessary to support autonomous vehicles including cars, taxis, trucks, and even drones.
To coordinate and accelerate these efforts, the TGA has established a Future Mobility Committee, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Transportation and composed of officials from key government entities. The committee is overseeing 120 projects aimed at modernizing transport nationwide, including 16 focused specifically on leveraging artificial intelligence to drive smart mobility.
Dr. Bamasag also highlighted key developments in public transit. Electric bus networks have recently launched in Tabuk and Jeddah, bringing the total number of Saudi cities with electric public transport services to 17.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Firms Eye Saudi Security Boom
TDT | Manama Bahrain's security, safety, and fire protection industry players are being urged to explore new opportunities as Saudi Arabia prepares to host its largest to date Intersec Saudi Arabia exhibition next month. The event, set for 29 September to 1 October at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre, will be held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Interior, and in association with the General Directorate of Civil Defense. Organisers expect more than 27,000 visitors and 370 plus exhibitors, making this the biggest edition yet. With Saudi Arabia's multi billion dollar giga projects, including NEOM, Red Sea Global, North Pole Riyadh, and Qiddiya, pushing demand for advanced safety and security solutions, Intersec Saudi Arabia is being positioned as a vital gateway for GCC businesses. Bilal Al Barmawi, CEO and Founder of 1st Arabia Trade Shows & Conferences, said the show offers a unique platform for critical infrastructure buyers, giga project leaders, and private sector decision makers to meet and forge partnerships. The Future Security Summit, powered by ASIS International Dhahran Chapter, will spotlight AI driven surveillance, predictive policing, mega event protection, and critical infrastructure security. Abdullah S. Alshemaly, the chapter's chairman, said public and private sectors are rapidly scaling investments in surveillance, cyber defence, and infrastructure protection.
Syyaha
3 days ago
- Syyaha
Forbes Cover Highlights flynas Historic $1.1 IPO, the First Airline Listing in KSA
Forbes Middle East, the leading financial and economic magazine, highlighted the historic Initial Public Offering by flynas, the leading low-cost airline in the world and the best LCC in the Middle East, that raised $1.1 billion in the first-ever airline listing in Saudi its August edition, Forbes published an exclusive interview with Bander Almohanna, CEO and Managing Director of flynas, with his photo leading the magazine cover, about flynas 'flying ahead' on a new route for the low-cost aviation said that flynas made history being the first ever listed carrier in Saudi Arabia to go public after offering 30% of its shares to the public last June, raising $1.1 billion 'in a landmark IPO'. In the exclusive interview, the magazine explored Almohanna's vision and focus on further route expansion and new destinations for Middle East, the Arabic version of the renowned American magazine Forbes, quoted Almohanna as saying that the offering, which was 100% oversubscribed valuing the airline at $3.6 billion, marks 'a significant milestone not only for flynas but also for the Saudi financial market and the broader aviation sector.'The listing coincided with a surge in IPO momentum across the Gulf. Despite global headwinds, the GCC saw 27 deals raising $4.1 billion in the first half of 2025, with flynas topping the list with more than 25% of the total capital raised, Forbes highlighted.'flynas benefited from the Kingdom's resilience, robust growth, and the clarity of Vision 2030,' Almohanna said, highlighting the aviation's key role in the national said that Almohanna has joined flynas since its early stages as the Chief Financial Officer of the group, that was launched in 2007, and played a central role in flynas's evolution. With a background in finance, including a stint at the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency from 1993 to 2002 in the Banking Supervision Department, transitioning from finance to aviation was a strategic evolution for Almohanna. 'My financial background gave me a solid foundation in understanding the economic dynamics of the airline industry,' Almohanna told Forbes. 'It has allowed me to make informed, data-driven decisions that support long-term operational and financial sustainability – something every CEO should be equibbed to do,' he was promoted to Executive Vice President in 2008 and became managing director and CEO in 2015, leading the flynas Group (flynas, NASJET, and flynas Hajj & Umrah) through rapid quoted Aljoharah Alsmari, VP of Investment Banking at BSF Capital, a lead manager of the IPO, as saying, 'As the only independent low-cost carrier in Saudi Arabia, flynas is internationally recognized for its operational efficiency and rapid growth.'As new entrants to the market emerge and legacy carriers expand, flynas continues to differentiate itself through its regional footprint, aggressive fleet expansion, and strategic focus on high-growth segments, particularly religious tourism, Forbes said. 'Competition is always welcome – it drives innovation,' Almohanna 2018, flynas launched its 'We Connect the World to the Kingdom' strategy, targeting international destinations that had not previously had direct routes to Saudi Arabia, Forbes said. Flynas plans to more than double its current fleet to 160 aircraft by 2030, with its network set to grow from over 70 destinations to 165 and more than 300 routes, Forbes for MENA's aviation sector, Almohanna sees a strong potential. 'Saudi Arabia, in particular, has all the right ingredients to become an aviation powerhouse,' he stressed. flynas, the leading low-cost airline in the world and the best LCC in the Middle East, and the first airline listed on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) operates 139 routes to more than 70 domestic and international destinations in 30 countries with more than 2000 weekly flights and has flown more than 80 million passengers since its launch in 2007, with the aim to reach 165 domestic and international destinations within its growth and expansion plan, and in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.
Gulf Insider
3 days ago
- Gulf Insider
Riyadh Bans Most Residential Infrastructure Work
Riyadh has banned work on noisy infrastructure projects in residential areas during evenings and early morning. The Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Centre (RIPC) has introduced new regulations limiting the permitted working hours for infrastructure activities in residential areas. Under the updated Infrastructure Projects Code, work in sectors such as telecommunications, energy, water, sewage, and road construction will be allowed only between: Sunday to Thursday: 7am to 6pm Weekends: 7am to 1pm Any activity outside these hours will require an emergency permit. The RIPC said the move is aimed at minimising disruptions for residents, ensuring greater comfort during non-working hours, and cutting noise pollution — particularly during evenings and weekends. The updated Infrastructure Projects Code serves as a comprehensive regulatory and technical guide for infrastructure development in Riyadh. It outlines technical standards and coordination requirements for: Government entities Service agencies Contractors Consultants Laboratories By setting clear rules for planning, coordination, and execution, the RIPC aims to ensure infrastructure projects are efficiently managed while balancing development needs with community well-being. Also read: Lufthansa to Relaunch Riyadh–Munich Route in October 2025, Boosting Saudi Capacity by 50%
