Saudi Arabia launches self-driving aerial taxi service for Hajj pilgrims

Launch of the self-driving aerial taxi service 

Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Saleh Al-Jasser, launched a self-driving aerial taxi service for pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The flying taxi is the world’s first to be licensed by a civil aviation authority.

The flying taxi will transport pilgrims across holy sites, facilitate the swift transfer of medical emergencies and supplies, as well as deliver goods.

The minister said the air taxi was part of the efforts to apply the latest future transport technologies and adopt innovative environment-friendly transport models that use artificial intelligence (AI) applications, aligning with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Vision 2030.

The Kingdom aims to modernize the transport sector through the launch of air taxi technologies, electric vehicles and hydrogen trains.

The ministry is working to enhance smart mobility and develop legislation, laws, and systems that enable the use of modern technologies. It further seeks to provide experimental environments to facilitate the expansion of future transport technologies.