Self-driving cars in Abu Dhabi: Tesla’s tech is now being tested

Tesla’s Advanced Self-Driving technology is being trialled on Abu Dhabi roads under driver supervision, the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) confirmed this week. The road tests are being overseen by Abu Dhabi Mobility with support from the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council and are being conducted within an organised regulatory framework designed to assess performance in real-world conditions and verify operational and safety readiness.

“The supervision of the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) over the commencement of Tesla’s advanced autonomous driving technology tests reflects its regulatory and legislative role,” said Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director General of the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility).

Context and details

According to an announcement from the Abu Dhabi Media Office, the programme is being carried out in coordination with the Legislation Lab at the UAE Cabinet's General Secretariat. The tests are explicitly described as driver-supervised trials intended to gather data on system performance and safety before any wider deployment.

• Supervising bodies: Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) and the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council.
• Regulatory coordination: Legislation Lab at the UAE Cabinet's General Secretariat.
• Mode of testing: Driver supervision during on-road trials.

AlGhfeli emphasised the dual objectives of the programme: supporting innovation while ensuring the safety of road users. “These tests represent a qualitative step to evaluate the technology’s performance in a real-world operating environment and to collect the necessary data to verify its readiness before any future expansion in usage,” he said. “Through this organised framework, and in cooperation with strategic partners, we seek to achieve a balance between supporting innovation and encouraging the adoption of smart solutions on one hand and ensuring the safety of road users on the other, in line with the emirate’s direction to develop an advanced, safe, and sustainable transport system.”

The initiative follows other autonomous mobility moves in the emirate. Earlier this month the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi, announced an expansion of its Robotaxi services. Launched in 2021 across Yas, Al Saadiyat, Al Reem, Al Maryah Islands and Zayed International Airport, the service will now extend into high-activity, high-density areas including Khalifa City, Masdar City and Rabdan, alongside new routes connecting Abu Dhabi Corniche with Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Those robotaxi services are operated commercially by WeRide and Uber.

Outlook

The supervised Tesla trials mark a measurable step toward Abu Dhabi’s autonomous mobility ambitions, offering regulators and operators a controlled environment to validate technology before scaling use. Coordination with the Legislation Lab signals an intent to align technical testing with evolving legal and safety frameworks, while the concurrent expansion of robotaxi services increases the variety of autonomous solutions being tested and deployed across the emirate.

Beyond Abu Dhabi, the region’s broader transport experimentation continues: Dubai recently updated plans for the Dubai Loop with The Boring Company, envisioning high-speed underground transit pods using Tesla Model Y vehicles in a project slated for 2027, underscoring how legacy automakers and tech firms are shaping the UAE’s transport horizon.