Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) has begun overseeing road trials of Tesla‘s Advanced Self-Driving (Supervised) technology in the emirate, marking the first time such tests have been conducted in Abu Dhabi.
The trials, which are being carried out under driver supervision, have been organised with the support of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council. They are designed to assess the technology’s performance in conditions on real roads and to verify its readiness from an operational and safety standpoint.
The programme is being coordinated with the Legislation Lab at the General Secretariat of the UAE Cabinet, a move that positions the trials within a framework to support innovation inside approved regulations.
Abu Dhabi mobility oversees Tesla FSD trials under new regulatory framework
The coordination is also intended to establish a model for testing driver-assistance and autonomous driving technologies across the region, while maintaining a balance between safety requirements and the adoption of new innovations.
“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. 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,” Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director General of the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) said in a statement.
“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,” he added.
The tests are being conducted with the purpose of gathering data on the technology’s performance before any decision is made on expanding its use. The trials sit within a framework that officials say will serve as a reference point for how driver-assistance and autonomous technologies are tested across the region.
The programme forms part of Abu Dhabi’s broader efforts to evaluate innovations in mobility and build readiness for the adoption of solutions for transport in the future, in line with safety requirements that have already received approval. Officials say the initiative supports the development of a transport system that is safer and more connected to technology.
