Elon Musk reaffirmed his intention to bring robotaxis to Saudi Arabia at the US-Saudi Investment Forum on Tuesday. This is the first time Musk has directly confirmed ambitions to expand Tesla’s autonomous vehicle program into the Kingdom. “Really, you can think of future cars as being robots on four wheels,” Musk said during the event. He added, “I think it will be very exciting to have autonomous vehicles here in the Kingdom, if you’re amenable,” addressing the Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Alswaha.
While Musk did not share a specific timeline, the confirmation reflects Tesla’s broader goal to globalize its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology.
Saudi Arabia’s Push for Autonomous Mobility
Saudi Arabia is actively promoting driverless vehicles as part of its Vision 2030 project. This national plan seeks to diversify the economy away from oil by investing in advanced technologies.
In 2023, the Kingdom issued a regulatory framework for self-driving cars, proposing a planned path to deployment. The government sees robotaxis and other self-driving alternatives as critical to modernizing urban mobility and lowering reliance on traditional vehicle ownership.
Uber’s Head Start in the Kingdom
While Tesla prepares to launch its first robotaxi trial in Austin, Texas in June, Uber has already made a move in Saudi Arabia. On May 6, Uber revealed plans to introduce robotaxis in the country through a collaboration with China’s Pony AI. Though no specific rollout date has been disclosed, the deployment is likely later this year.
Uber also owns Careem, the region’s biggest ridesharing app. This provides Uber with a substantial operational edge as it prepares to launch driverless services in the Kingdom.
Tesla’s Global Robotaxi Strategy
Tesla has not yet made its robotaxi service available in any country. The planned pilot in Austin is the first major test. Musk has hinted that growth may occur quickly after that, depending on regulatory and technological readiness.
Importantly, Tesla’s robotaxi service isn’t limited to a single model like the much-rumored “Cybercab.” Instead, any Tesla vehicle capable of unsupervised Full Self-Driving could potentially become a robotaxi. For Saudi Arabia, this means Tesla must first work with local authorities to roll out a supervised version of its FSD suite. Over time, and with approvals, this could transition to a fully autonomous platform.
Starlink and Strengthening Saudi Ties
Tesla isn’t the only Musk-led initiative making inroads into Saudi Arabia. SpaceX’s Starlink has recently received approval for maritime and aviation use in the Kingdom. This expansion of Starlink services further solidifies Musk’s growing relationship with Saudi leadership, opening the door for more technology collaborations in the future.
The company reports that usage tripled in 2024, and the service now covers over 125 countries. Starlink has played a vital role in supporting connectivity during the conflict in Ukraine and continues to push into new markets. It remains the largest satellite internet network globally, though Amazon is developing a competing system.
Elon Musk Invited to Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum in Riyadh
According to Reuters, the forum will feature a lineup of some of the world’s top business leaders. The CEOs of BlackRock, Citigroup, IBM, Boeing, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines are slated to attend. This emphasizes the forum’s strategic role in global economic negotiations.
With this kind of guest list, Musk’s presence fits quite nicely. He is the CEO of innovative firms including Tesla, SpaceX, and the AI startup xAI. His growing impact in both technology and policy places him in the same league as these key actors.
Musk’s Strengthening Ties with the Middle East
Elon Musk’s connection with Riyadh has developed over the years. Since the start of President Trump’s second term, communications between Musk and Saudi leaders appear to have improved. A major highlight occurred in April, when Tesla officially launched in Saudi Arabia. The expo showcased significant technologies such as the humanoid robot Optimus, the widely anticipated Cybertruck, and Tesla’s self-driving robotaxi.
Videos from the event revealed a high level of energy and excitement, indicating an enormous local interest in Tesla’s advances.
Possible End to an Old Feud
Musk’s reported invitation also suggests a significant shift in his relationship with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). The PIF is one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, with assets totaling $925 billion.
In 2018, PIF chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan was linked to Musk’s contentious “funding secured” tweet regarding taking Tesla private. The consequences included regulatory fines and Musk’s ouster as Tesla’s Board Chair. The PIF later sold its Tesla shares and backed Lucid Group Inc., a rival electric vehicle company. Now, with Tesla’s launch in the kingdom and Musk’s possible presence at a forum attended by Al-Rumayyan, signs point to reconciliation. If so, this could reshape future EV investments in the region.
Elon Musk’s announcement marks a major step toward Tesla’s international robotaxi rollout, with Saudi Arabia potentially becoming one of the first global markets. The Kingdom’s governmental support, growing desire for autonomous technology, and alignment with Musk’s larger enterprises, such as Starlink, all point to a new chapter in US-Saudi technology collaboration. While challenges remain, particularly in reaching full autonomy, Tesla’s plans now clearly involve the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia may soon play a crucial role in the future of autonomous mobility, given Musk’s involvement at the Saudi-US Investment Forum and improving relations with Riyadh.
