Saudi Arabia has launched a comprehensive legal framework governing self-driving vehicles, establishing clear liability rules as the Kingdom prepares for wider adoption of autonomous technology. The amendments, approved by Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, add new provisions to the Executive Regulations of the Traffic Law and were published in the official gazette Umm Al-Qura.
Ownership and Approval Requirements
Under the updated rules, owners of fully autonomous vehicles bear legal responsibility for complying with traffic regulations, since the vehicle requires no human intervention during operation. However, for vehicles still requiring some human oversight, the driver remains responsible for following all applicable traffic rules.
Additionally, owners seeking to deregister a self-driving vehicle must first secure approval from the relevant authority, which ensures they have fulfilled all technical and regulatory obligations before canceling the vehicle’s record.
Meanwhile, conventional driver-authorisation requirements will no longer apply to vehicles capable of operating entirely without human control.
Safety Standards and Penalties
The amendments extend existing obligations to autonomous vehicles, including compliance with road signs, traffic signals, right-of-way rules and procedures for emergency vehicles and official convoys. Consequently, penalties for traffic violations and accidents, including fines, vehicle impoundment and other sanctions, will also apply under the revised framework.
The General Directorate of Traffic said the new rules accommodate vehicles operating at varying levels of automation, whether or not a human driver is present. Furthermore, authorities said the changes aim to strengthen road safety, protect lives and property, and ensure the Kingdom’s traffic system keeps pace with smart mobility innovations.
Self-driving vehicles rely on artificial intelligence, cameras, radar and LiDAR sensors to interpret road conditions and navigate safely, with technology ranging from driver-assistance systems to fully autonomous operation.
