Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, has launched supervised road trials of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology — the first such trials to take place in the emirate.
The trials, which require a driver to remain present and attentive at all times, are being carried out within a structured regulatory framework intended to assess the system’s performance under real-world operating conditions and verify its safety readiness ahead of any potential broader deployment.
The programme is being conducted in coordination with the Legislation Lab at the General Secretariat of the UAE Cabinet, with the ITC acting as the regulatory and supervisory authority overseeing the process.
The news comes as the ITC also announces a new autonomous freight trial.
Regulatory framework central to trial design
“The supervision of the Integrated Transport Centre over the commencement of Tesla’s advanced autonomous driving technology tests reflects its regulatory and legislative role,” says Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, acting director general of the Integrated Transport Centre. “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.”
The ITC says the trials are designed to support innovation within approved regulatory frameworks while maintaining road user safety. “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,” AlGhfeli adds.
Data collection to inform next steps
The ITC describes the programme as part of Abu Dhabi’s broader efforts to evaluate advanced mobility technologies and build readiness for future deployment. Data gathered during the trials will be used to assess whether the technology meets the safety thresholds required before any wider rollout is considered.
The Smart and Autonomous Systems Council is supporting the initiative, which the ITC frames as part of the emirate’s longer-term ambition to develop an integrated, technology-driven transport network.
No timeline has been given for how long the trial phase will run, nor have specific routes or geographic scope been disclosed in the announcement.
