Pony AI deploys robotaxis on Qatar public roads
Qatar's largest transport provider partners with Pony.ai for robotaxi road tests
#Qatar #AVs - US-listed Chinese autonomous driving company Pony AI Inc. has partnered with Qatar's largest transportation service provider Mowasalat to begin robotaxi trials on public roads in Doha. The deployment marks the first autonomous vehicle trials in the country and expands Pony.ai's Middle Eastern presence beyond Dubai. Initial testing phases will include safety drivers onboard, whilst adapting the company's autonomous driving technology to Qatar's unique weather conditions, road infrastructure, and traffic patterns.
SO WHAT? - The Pony.ai trials on Qatari roads are a significant milestone for Qatar, as Saudi Arabia and the UAE move their autonomous vehicle plans into high gear. It has so far moved slowly on plans to introduce broader robotaxi services. Qatar conducted limited robotaxi tests in June and had conducted limited last mile autonomous transport trials over the past few years. Although the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi has had robotaxi road trials running since 2021, it is still early days for autonomous road transport in the Gulf and Qatar’s trials with Pony.ai are in step with Saudi and UAE efforts.
Here are some details about the Pony.ai Qatar trials:
Autonomous driving company Pony AI Inc. has begun robotaxi trials on Qatar’s public roads, signing a partnership agreement with the country’s largest transportation service provider Mowasalat.
The partnership involves testing Pony.ai's robotaxis on Doha's public roads with safety operators present, at least during initial phases.
Qatar state-owned transport company Mowasalat brings extensive experience from successfully managing transportation during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, providing crucial local knowledge for autonomous vehicle deployment.
The trials aim to adapt Pony.ai's vehicle-agnostic Virtual Driver technology to Qatar's weather conditions, road infrastructure, and traffic patterns before potential commercial deployment phases.
This collaboration aligns with Qatar's National Vision 2030, which emphasises sustainable development, technological innovation, and economic diversification beyond traditional energy sectors.
The deployment expands Pony.ai's Middle Eastern footprint beyond existing Dubai operations, demonstrating the company's strategy of building regional ecosystems through local partnerships.
ZOOM OUT - The Qatar deployment follows Pony.ai's earlier entry into the UAE market through an MoU signed with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority in May 2025. The Dubai partnership marked the Chinese company's Middle Eastern debut, with plans for seventh-generation robotaxi trials beginning this year and fully driverless operations launching in 2026. Dubai RTA has pursued a multi-vendor strategy, signing similar agreements with Baidu's Apollo Go and WeRide. The UAE's ambitious target to convert 25% of all city journeys to autonomous transport by 2030.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
Read more about Pony.ai in the Middle East:
Pony.ai to start robotaxi trials with Dubai RTA this year (Middle East AI News)
Abu Dhabi confirms anchor deals for SAVI (Middle East AI News)
NEOM invests $100 million in Pony.ai (Middle East AI News Weekly Digest)