UAE to have over 10,000 autonomous taxis, delivery vans by 2027, official says

The UAE is preparing for a major expansion of driverless transport, with more than 10,000 autonomous taxis and delivery vans expected to operate across the country next year.

Faisal Al Bannai, adviser to the UAE President and secretary general of the Advanced Technology Research Council, revealed the planned expansion at AI Everything Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Thousands of Driverless Vehicles Expected

Al Bannai said the UAE’s autonomous mobility sector would move from hundreds of vehicles currently in operation to thousands next year.

He said the country would see more than 10,000 taxis and delivery vans operating on its roads, adding that orders for the platforms have already been placed.

According to Al Bannai, the planned deployment could make the UAE the largest operator of autonomous taxis and vans outside China.

Autonomous Taxis Already Operating in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

The UAE has already begun commercial operations of autonomous taxis in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Abu Dhabi expanded its Level 4 autonomous taxi services on Yas Island earlier this year, while Dubai has introduced commercial driverless taxi services in areas including Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah.

Abu Dhabi had previously become the first city in the Middle East and North Africa to launch commercial operations of fully driverless Level 4 vehicles, according to Abu Dhabi Mobility.

The existing services have undergone testing and validation as the UAE prepares for a much larger rollout.

UAE Expands Into ‘Physical AI’

The planned autonomous vehicle expansion is part of a broader UAE strategy focused on what Al Bannai described as “physical AI”.

The concept involves artificial intelligence moving beyond software and interacting with the physical world through vehicles, robots and other intelligent machines.
The UAE also expects to see thousands of robots deployed across the country next year.

Thousands of Robots to Enter Daily Life

Robots are expected to be used across several sectors, including inspection, monitoring and hospitality.

Al Bannai said residents would increasingly see robots in public spaces, malls, residential compounds and other locations.

He also indicated that companies working on frontier physical intelligence would be announced, signalling further developments in the UAE’s robotics and AI ecosystem.

AI Everything Abu Dhabi Highlights UAE’s Technology Push

The announcements were made during AI Everything Abu Dhabi, a two-day artificial intelligence summit and exhibition taking place at ADNEC Centre on October 6 and 7.

The event highlights the UAE’s growing focus on artificial intelligence, autonomous mobility and robotics as the country seeks to expand the use of advanced technologies in everyday life.