File photo of robotaxi in Qatar.
Doha, Qatar: Safety remains the top priority as Qatar moves into the next phase of testing electric robotaxis, with vehicles now operating without a driver on board after successfully completing thousands of supervised trial journeys.
Mohammed Jassim Al Shaibani, Head of Traffic Engineering and Road Safety at the Ministry of Transport, said in an interview with Qatar Television that the autonomous taxis are equipped with artificial intelligence technologies and advanced sensors, including LiDAR, enabling them to identify routes, monitor their surroundings and make safe driving decisions without human intervention.
He explained that the vehicles differ from conventional cars, with the roof-mounted equipment housing the intelligent transport systems that support autonomous navigation and decision-making.
Addressing potential concerns about travelling in a driverless vehicle, Al Shaibani said passenger safety has been the project’s primary focus since its launch.
He said the first phase of the autonomous mobility project included 2,500 operational trial trips, achieving a 94 percent success rate while recording high levels of customer satisfaction. According to Al Shaibani, the project has now entered its second phase, during which the safety driver previously seated inside the vehicle has been removed.
The autonomous taxis are instead monitored remotely while operating on pre-approved routes.
The Ministry of Transport announced in June 2025 the launch of phased operational trials of Level 4 autonomous electric taxis, developed in cooperation with Mowasalat (Karwa). The project aims to assess the readiness of the technology, establish the required regulatory framework and prepare the infrastructure needed for wider deployment as part of Qatar’s smart mobility strategy.
Each vehicle is equipped with six cameras, four radars and four LiDAR sensors to ensure precise navigation and obstacle detection.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Transport and Mowasalat (Karwa) announced the successful completion of the first operational phase, which began in August 2025.
