Abu Dhabi has introduced the first dedicated license plates for experimental and commercial autonomous vehicles as the adoption of smart transport technologies accelerates.

These plates feature a unified blue design and specific labels: "Auto Drive" for vehicles providing commercial autonomous services, and "Test" for vehicles operating within experimental and pilot programs.

This system assists relevant authorities in monitoring autonomous vehicles, enhancing road safety, and ensuring that operating companies comply with approved technical and operational standards.

The move comes as Abu Dhabi continues to develop its autonomous transport infrastructure and ecosystem. On July 10, the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), part of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, launched a central control room dedicated to managing and monitoring autonomous vehicle operations across the emirate.

Utilizing advanced real-time monitoring systems, data analysis, and decision-support tools, the control room enables closer oversight of autonomous vehicle operations. As the sector expands, it will contribute to increased safety and operational efficiency.

According to Abu Dhabi Mobility, the center allows authorities to track the movement, routes, and speeds of autonomous vehicles, coordinate emergency responses, and generate data-driven reports to optimize operations. The center also supports the permit management process and the approval of operational routes.

The launch of this system is part of Abu Dhabi's broader efforts to establish a regulatory framework for autonomous transport. On June 27, the emirate also issued new guidelines for testing small autonomous and remote-controlled marine vessels.

The "Requirements and Regulations for Testing Autonomous Marine Vessels" framework introduces a mandatory licensing system to regulate testing activities. This initiative aims to ensure maritime safety, protect lives and property, and safeguard the marine environment.