Masdar City trials next-generation autonomous vehicles

Masdar City is taking a major step into the future of transport, launching real-world testing of Level 4 autonomous vehicles.

These self-driving vehicles are being trialled on a 2.4 km route across key landmarks including the Siemens building, Central Park and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) headquarters.

They can operate independently within a geofenced area, and Masdar City is offering its urban ecosystem as a testbed for global manufacturers.

The trials are part of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council’s strategy, in partnership with Solutions+, a Mubadala company, and overseen by Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre.

The real-world trials are expected to provide critical insights into how these vehicles perform in the UAE’s climate and infrastructure, helping refine the technology for future rollout.

Level 4 automation allows vehicles to operate entirely on their own within designated areas—no human driver needed. Safety officers are currently onboard, but the aim is to transition to fully autonomous operation from a centralised remote control room.

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