Autonomous delivery vehicles and robotaxis are expanding across the UAE as municipal infrastructure prepares to incorporate advanced robotics, according to statements reported by Gulf News at the AI Everything 2026 summit in Abu Dhabi.
Faisal Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President and Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), stated that the UAE expects to have thousands of autonomous taxis operating by next year. He noted that the UAE is positioned to become the largest deployer of robotaxis globally behind China, while acknowledging that regulatory hurdles, safety risks, and geopolitical complexities remain potential challenges.
Al Bannai added that the UAE's regulatory responsiveness serves as an advantage in deploying technology rapidly. He noted that the country is investing in smaller, specialized artificial intelligence models designed for specific sector applications.
H.E. Ahmed Tamim Hisham Al Kuttab, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Government Enablement (DGE), outlined Abu Dhabi's goal to become the world's first AI-native government by 2027. He stated that the emirate has assembled the core elements required by businesses, including computing power, capital, and early adopters.
Sources
- Gulf News · 2026-10-06
