Riyadh To Launch Self-Driving Taxis Soon
Riyadh will soon be home to self-driving taxis, in a significant transformation in Saudi Arabia's journey toward a smart, AI-enabled transport future, according to a senior government official.
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
Trade Arabia
8 hours ago
- Trade Arabia
UiPath appoints Sara Al-Alsheikh as Regional VP for Saudi Arabia
UiPath, a global leader in agentic automation, has appointed Sara Al-Alsheikh as Regional Vice President (RVP) and Managing Director for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain, amid rising demand for AI-powered automation adoption across the Gulf. Al-Alsheikh will lead UiPath's go-to-market and customer success strategy across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain and act as Managing Director of the UiPath regional hub, headquartered in Riyadh. She will focus on accelerating growth in key sectors such as government, banking, oil and gas, and others, strengthening UiPath's partner ecosystem, and driving customer success across large-scale digital transformation initiatives, the company said. Agentic Automation Momentum The Gulf region is experiencing a significant surge in digital transformation initiatives, with organisations increasingly adopting advanced automation technologies to enhance efficiency and competitiveness. UiPath is at the forefront of this evolution, enabling local businesses and governments to develop and orchestrate complex AI-powered automation deployments through seamless integration of AI agents, software robots, and human collaboration. Thanks to her exceptional track record of success having worked closely with UiPath customers in the region since joining in 2023 as Director of Public Sector and Public Investment Fund (PIF), Al-Alsheikh's appointment aligns with this momentum. Furthermore, it is placing UiPath in a solid position to further support the Gulf's ambitious Vision 2030 objectives by fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth across key sectors, while also supporting gender inclusion goals, the company said. With over a decade of experience at global technology firms including HP, IBM, and SAP, she represents a new generation of Saudi leaders driving innovation, inclusion, and sustainable growth across the region's technology landscape. "Sara's leadership is a strategic asset for UiPath and a symbol of what's possible when talent, vision, and inclusion intersect," said Zakaria Haltout, Area Vice President Middle East and Africa at UiPath.
Gulf Insider
11 hours ago
- Gulf Insider
Samsung's AI Home in Dubai: A Glimpse into Smarter Living
Samsung Gulf Electronics just dropped a game-changer in Dubai with its AI Home showcase, turning a villa into a futuristic playground of connected tech. Forget boring product demos—this event lets guests live the experience. Unlike conventional product launches confined to retail displays, Samsung's event created a fully immersive environment where guests experienced its connected home ecosystem in real-world scenarios. Eight lifestyle zones replicated familiar spaces like living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens, showing how AI-powered devices interact and enhance daily life. Neo QLED TVs with near-8K visuals, a Frame Pro TV that doubles as a gallery-worthy art piece, and a Bespoke AI fridge that knows your grocery habits. The Bespoke AI Jet Ultra vacuum? It adjusts suction on its own, while the Odyssey 3D monitor takes gaming to another dimension. All these devices sync seamlessly via Samsung's SmartThings platform, which even plays nice with Amazon Ring and smart curtains. Privacy? Covered. Samsung's SmartThings uses top-tier NOx military-grade security and blockchain to keep your data locked down, automatically isolating any device that's compromised. At the event, Gulf Insider spoke with Guran Nakiboglu, Head of the Home Appliances Division; Shafi Alam, Head of the Direct-to-Consumer Business & Corporate Marketing Division; and Mohamad Sharif Oubaid, Director and Head of the Visual Display Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics. All three Samsung execs said that AI's just getting started. Soon, your home will adapt to you—tweaking lights, temps, and even TV content based on your vibe. The team pointed out that within the next few years, AI will become essential for connected living, as devices increasingly adapt to user preferences and behaviours. AI-powered personalisation will make technology more intuitive and responsive, whether it's managing appliances, adjusting lighting and temperature, or generating on-screen content. They highlighted how innovations like Samsung's Frame TV, which displays curated art when not in use, and the Bespoke AI Jet Ultra vacuum, which automatically adjusts suction based on floor types, are already paving the way for smarter, more adaptable homes. However, they noted that many consumers aren't yet fully leveraging the capabilities of their smart devices, and events like the AI Home showcase help bridge this gap.
Biz Bahrain
18 hours ago
- Biz Bahrain
EWA sign "Kafa'a" initiative implementation agreements
The Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) signed implementation agreements for the first phase of the national programme 'Kafa'a', aimed at improving energy efficiency in government buildings. The agreements were signed with Saudi-based Quantum Energy Solutions and ESTA Middle East, both specialised in energy efficiency services. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, President of EWA, emphasised that the initiative represents a strategic step in national efforts to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. He noted that the first phase targets energy efficiency upgrades in 12 government buildings, as part of a wider plan to cover 20 buildings during the current year. He added that the initiative is expected to save approximately 308 gigawatt-hours of electricity and reduce carbon emissions by nearly 154,000 tonnes by 2040, making it one of the Kingdom's flagship projects supporting the goal of carbon neutrality. The current phase includes buildings belonging to several ministries, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs, and the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA). EWA will oversee all stages of project implementation and monitor the outcomes to ensure the intended targets are met. This will be carried out in collaboration with specialised companies delivering the programme, to enhance energy efficiency in both public and private sector facilities, while achieving sustainable operational savings and reducing carbon emissions. Launched in December 2023, the 'Kafa'a' programme is a national initiative designed to reduce electricity consumption in both public and private sector buildings and consequently lower carbon emissions. The initial implementation phase targets 20 government buildings. BNA(R)
