Latest news with #Bamasag
Gulf Insider
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Insider
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.
Saudi Gazette
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Saudi Gazette
TGA official: Riyadh will see launch of self-driving taxis soon
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Dr. Omaimah Bamasag, deputy of Transport Enablement at the Transport General Authority (TGA), revealed that the self-driving taxi project will be launched in Riyadh soon. "This will represent a qualitative step towards a smart and sustainable future in the transportation sector," she said while attending a session titled "Smarter cities, smarter services: How artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are reshaping the future" at the UJ 2025 Artificial Intelligence Conference, organized by the University of Jeddah. Dr. Bamasag stated that five cities across the Kingdom have been identified as self driving-friendly, with physical and digital infrastructure, including autonomous trucks, autonomous cars, taxis, and drones. She revealed that the TGA has established a Future Mobility Committee, chaired by the deputy minister of transport, and representatives from relevant government agencies as its members. The committee coordinates and organizes efforts, strategies, and projects, and develops a roadmap for mobility in the Kingdom. This committee has 120 projects, 16 of which relate to enabling smart mobility powered by artificial intelligence. Dr. Bamasag also noted that the Kingdom is working on numerous transportation projects. Over the past two days, public transportation using electric buses was launched in Tabuk and Jeddah, bringing the number of cities offering public transportation services to 17.
