Abu Dhabi Expands Operations For Autonomous Taxis On Yas Island, Offers Free Rides

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Service to later extend to Reem, Maryah and Saadiyat islands as emirate scales driverless mobility

By: Salma El Omla Haneen Dajani

Autonomous taxi services in Abu Dhabi are expanding on Yas Island as authorities scale up commercial driverless mobility operations in partnership with global technology firms.

Under the supervision of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) has expanded commercial operations for autonomous taxis on Yas Island in partnership with Apollo Go and Autogo, strengthening the emirate’s smart mobility ecosystem.

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The move adds Autogo, a subsidiary of K2, as a local operator working alongside Apollo Go - the autonomous ride-hailing platform developed by Chinese tech giant Baidu.

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Officials said the step forms part of Abu Dhabi’s gradual rollout of autonomous mobility services after testing and operational trials on Yas Island, which have now transitioned to Level 4 autonomous taxi commercial operations - meaning vehicles can operate without human drivers under specific conditions.

The driverless taxis can be booked through the Autogo mobile application, available on Android and Apple devices.

** New operator**

Hamad Adel Al Afeefi, Executive Director of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Sector at ITC, said bringing another operator into the ecosystem is a key milestone for the emirate’s smart mobility ambitions.

“Welcoming a new operator to the commercial operation of autonomous taxis in the region represents a pivotal step within ITC’s efforts to regulate and develop Abu Dhabi’s smart and sustainable mobility ecosystem,” he said.

The addition of more operators is expected to improve operational readiness and support the emirate’s goal of building an integrated transport system that uses advanced technologies to improve efficiency and safety.

** Public testing phase includes free rides**

Waleed Alblooshi, Vice-President of Strategy at K2, said the service is currently being offered with free rides to encourage residents and visitors to experience autonomous mobility.

“Offering free rides at this stage enables the public to experience autonomous mobility as a practical option for everyday life and lays the foundation for the next phase of expansion and organised commercial operations,” he said.

Major strides in autonomous mobility

The emirate is making significant strides in autonomous mobility. Less than a month ago, on February 26, Tesla began supervised road trials of its self-driving cars in Abu Dhabi.

These trials form part of Abu Dhabi’s broader strategy to explore advanced transport technologies and enhance the emirate’s preparedness for future mobility solutions.

Tesla’s latest self-driving systems are being tested on local roads with drivers on board, following a structured programme designed to ensure both safety and operational readiness.

The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), supported by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, is overseeing these first-of-their-kind trials in the emirate.

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