Driverless taxi rules in Saudi Arabia are now on the books. The Transport General Authority (TGA) has approved an executive regulation for carrying passengers in self-driving vehicles, published in the official gazette Umm Al-Qura on 6 November 2026, and it takes effect 60 days later, on 6 January 2027.
For expats who already ride app taxis in Riyadh every day, this is the rulebook for the next kind of ride: who can run a robotaxi service, what the car must carry, and what you can and cannot do in the back seat.
What the new driverless taxi rules say
Only TGA-licensed companies can carry passengers in self-driving vehicles, and each one needs a real fleet before it starts. Okaz, which reviewed the 31-article regulation, listed these conditions:
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Minimum fleet | 5 vehicles, owned or held under an approved arrangement |
| Vehicle age | No more than 10 years from the year of manufacture |
| Company licence | 3 years, limited to an approved area |
| Restricted licence | 180 days to complete requirements, no passenger service allowed |
| Vehicle operating card | One per vehicle, valid for 1 year |
| Insurance | Civil liability cover for passengers and third parties |
Every vehicle must also pass a trial period first. A safety officer has to be on board, although the TGA can allow a car to run without one once technical readiness and performance reports back it up.
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Rules for passengers
Riders have to follow a short list of conduct rules, and breaking them lets the operator refuse or end the trip. According to Okaz and Sobra News:
- No eating and no smoking inside the vehicle.
- Seat belts stay on for the whole journey.
- Pets are allowed only in a cage, with a health certificate showing the animal is free of disease.
- The ride can be refused if there are more passengers than seats, if someone tampers with equipment, breaks public decency rules, behaves aggressively, or if the destination is unknown.
On the operator side, companies must publish a clear pricing method and tell the TGA before prices change. They also need complaint and lost-property channels, and items left behind go to the nearest security centre within 3 days.
Who is affected
Mostly passengers and transport companies. If you take app rides in Riyadh, where TGA has been testing autonomous vehicles on set routes, the rules decide what protection you get on a robotaxi: insurance cover, a complaints route and a way to get lost items back.
Drivers working for taxi and ride-hailing apps are not affected straight away. Nothing in the regulation removes existing licences or sets a date for replacing human drivers.
What expats should do now
- Book only through licensed apps. Self-driving rides must come through the operator’s own app or a licensed intermediary app inside the approved area.
- Keep your trip record. If you lose something or need to complain, the booking details are your proof.
- Know your objection window. Operators and others penalised under the rules have 30 days from notification to object, and 60 days to take a review decision to court.
What has not changed
Liability on the road is still covered by the Traffic Law. Amendments to its executive regulation in June 2026 made the owner of a fully autonomous vehicle responsible in an accident as if it were the driver.
The TGA has not said which cities or companies will be licensed first, and it has not published fares. The full text is on the Transport General Authority website and in Umm Al-Qura. Until then, treat 6 January as the date the rules start, not the date driverless rides appear everywhere.
How the Riyadh robotaxi pilot has worked so far
The new regulation builds on a pilot the TGA started in Riyadh in July 2025. It was run with Uber and WeRide: WeRide supplied the self-driving cars and the rides were booked through the Uber app. The pilot was planned to run for 12 months, with a safety officer on board every vehicle to monitor the system.
Arab News reported in October 2025 that more than 1,000 people had already used the service, with pick-ups at Roshn Front and Princess Nourah University. The TGA planned to grow the fleet to more than 20 autonomous vehicles by the end of 2025. Argaam reported in 2025 that trials also covered King Khalid International Airport and several major roads, on fixed routes with set pick-up and drop-off points.
The TGA also said it had received applications from other companies interested in operating autonomous vehicles, and that it was assessing whether to extend trials to other cities. No other city has been named in the coverage so far.
What a robotaxi ride looks like in practice
Based on the pilot and the new rules, expect a ride to work like this:
- You book in a licensed app and choose a pick-up point inside the approved area.
- The car arrives at a fixed stop, not at your door, because routes are set in advance.
- During the trial period a safety officer sits in the car. Follow any instruction they give.
- Keep your seat belt on, do not eat or smoke, and keep any pet in a cage.
- At the end, check the seats for your phone and wallet. If you leave something behind, report it through the app straight away.
Who is liable if something goes wrong
The operator must carry civil liability insurance for passengers and third parties, as listed in the regulation above. On the road itself, the owner of a fully autonomous vehicle is treated as the driver under the amended Traffic Law rules. For you as a passenger, this means a claim goes through the operator and its insurer, not against another rider.
How robotaxis fit with other transport in Riyadh
For now, robotaxis cover only a few areas. For daily commuting across the city, the metro and buses remain the cheaper choice. Our guide to Riyadh Metro ticket prices and timings explains the passes. If you drive for an app or rent cars, the separate decision on taxi and rental car age limits is more relevant to you today. To compare transport costs with rent and bills, use our cost of living calculator.
Frequently asked questions
When do the driverless taxi rules start?
On 6 January 2027, 60 days after publication in Umm Al-Qura on 6 November 2026.
Can I already ride a self-driving taxi in Riyadh?
The pilot that began in July 2025 has carried members of the public who booked through the Uber app in set areas. Availability depends on the pilot’s current areas and hours.
Will there be a person in the car?
A safety officer is required, although the TGA can allow a vehicle to run without one once its technical readiness is proven.
Can I bring my cat or dog?
Only in a cage, with a health certificate showing the animal is free of disease.