Dubai Opens Autonomous Vehicle Test Centre With 248 Testing Scenarios

Dubai has taken another major step towards large-scale autonomous mobility with the opening of Dubai Mobility Labs, a dedicated testing and validation facility for self-driving and future mobility technologies.

The new facility, located at Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launched in partnership with the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ). 

It was developed to give autonomous vehicle companies a controlled environment to test vehicles, sensors, software, and driving systems before moving to wider public-road operations.

According to the RTA, Dubai Mobility Labs supports 248 autonomous driving test scenarios, making it one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the region.

What Is Dubai Mobility Labs?

Dubai Mobility Labs was designed as more than a traditional vehicle proving ground. The facility supports the complete development process for autonomous mobility technologies, including testing, verification, validation and certification. 

It also connects controlled testing with real-world road trials, giving companies the opportunity to evaluate how autonomous vehicles perform under actual Dubai driving conditions.

Of the 248 available testing scenarios, 195 can be recreated inside the facility’s multipurpose test area.

The testing environment can assess how an autonomous vehicle:

• Detects surrounding vehicles and objects
• Interprets road infrastructure
• Makes driving decisions
• Responds to changing traffic conditions
• Interacts with other road users
• Operates in different environmental conditions
• Handles complex driving situations

Testing can then extend beyond the closed facility onto designated public-road routes running from Dubai Silicon Oasis towards Al Qudra.

Designed For UAE Driving Conditions

One of the biggest advantages of establishing the facility in Dubai is the ability to test autonomous vehicles under demanding regional conditions.

High temperatures, dust, strong sunlight, and changing visibility can affect cameras, radar systems, LiDAR sensors, batteries, and onboard computing systems.

Manufacturers therefore need to prove that their autonomous technologies can continue functioning reliably in these conditions before widespread deployment.

The facility also includes workshops, operational areas, offices and support infrastructure, along with three 60kW electric vehicle chargers.

Companies can use the site for autonomous driving and Advanced Driver Assistance System testing, durability evaluations, data collection and public-road validation.

Tesla, WeRide & Pony.ai Have Already Tested Vehicles

The RTA confirmed that Tesla, WeRide and Pony.ai have already conducted trials using Dubai Mobility Labs.

WeRide and Pony.ai are among the companies already involved in Dubai’s rapidly expanding autonomous taxi programme.

Tesla’s involvement is particularly interesting, although the RTA has not revealed which Tesla vehicles or autonomous driving systems were tested.

The testing should therefore not be interpreted as confirmation that Tesla Full Self-Driving has received approval for unrestricted use in Dubai.

Instead, it shows that Dubai Mobility Labs can attract some of the world’s leading autonomous mobility companies to test their technology locally.

DEKRA To Operate The Facility

International vehicle testing and certification company DEKRA has been appointed to operate Dubai Mobility Labs during its first three years.

The company will oversee testing activities, facility operations and safety procedures while supporting companies through validation and certification processes.

DEKRA already operates several proving grounds and automotive testing laboratories internationally, giving Dubai Mobility Labs access to established global testing standards.

The Dubai facility also expands DEKRA’s ability to test autonomous vehicles in extremely hot climates.

Dubai’s Robotaxi Programme Is Already Running

Dubai Mobility Labs arrives as autonomous cars are already operating on Dubai roads.

Companies including Baidu Apollo Go, WeRide and Pony.ai have been granted permits to test autonomous vehicles in the emirate.

Commercial autonomous taxi operations have also started in areas including Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim.

By August 2026, Dubai’s robotaxi programme had recorded more than 4 million kilometres of autonomous driving, while the fleet had grown to 144 vehicles.

The programme had also completed more than 7,600 passenger journeys, with the RTA reporting a customer satisfaction rate of 97%.

This means Dubai Mobility Labs is not being created simply to experiment with autonomous cars. Instead, it provides the testing infrastructure required to safely expand autonomous transport across the city.

Strict Rules Before Autonomous Cars Reach Dubai Roads

Dubai has already introduced legislation regulating the operation of autonomous vehicles.

Vehicles cannot begin operating autonomously on public roads without RTA approval.

The regulatory process includes technical inspection, safety requirements, insurance, licensing and operational restrictions.

Dubai has also introduced a three-stage framework for autonomous vehicles.

The first stage involves verifying vehicle data and mapping systems. Vehicles can then progress to testing with a safety operator inside.

Only after meeting additional requirements can an autonomous vehicle operate without a safety operator.

This makes Dubai Mobility Labs an important part of the regulatory ecosystem, allowing companies to prove their technology in a controlled environment before progressing to more complex road testing.

What About Privately Owned Autonomous Cars?

Dubai’s autonomous vehicle regulations also make provisions for privately owned self-driving cars.

However, autonomous driving functions cannot simply be activated everywhere.

Vehicles must satisfy the required approval process, while the RTA can determine where and when autonomous functions are allowed to operate.

This will become increasingly important as more manufacturers introduce higher levels of automated driving technology into production cars.

Dubai Targets 25% Autonomous Mobility By 2030

The new facility forms part of the wider Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy.

Dubai is targeting 25% of all mobility journeys to be autonomous by 2030.

Importantly, this does not mean that 25% of private cars in Dubai will become driverless.

The target covers multiple types of transport, including autonomous taxis, buses, delivery vehicles and other mobility services.

Dubai has also outlined longer-term plans to increase autonomous mobility further by 2040.

A Major Step Towards Driverless Mobility

Dubai Mobility Labs fills an important gap between developing autonomous driving technology and deploying it on public roads.

Manufacturers can now test vehicles, sensors and software under both controlled and real-world UAE conditions while working within Dubai’s increasingly detailed regulatory framework.

With companies including Tesla, WeRide and Pony.ai already using the facility, Dubai is positioning itself not only as a market for autonomous vehicles but also as a major regional centre for their development, testing and certification.

As robotaxi operations expand and more manufacturers introduce advanced autonomous systems, Dubai Mobility Labs could play a central role in deciding which technologies are ready for everyday use on UAE roads.

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