Abu Dhabi self-driving car licence plates have been introduced for the first time by the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, under the supervision of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, marking another step in the emirate’s push toward smart transport and autonomous vehicles. The new plates are designed to identify autonomous vehicles, whether they are used for commercial services or are still in testing and pilot programmes.
The plates come in a unified blue design, with clear wording that shows how each vehicle is used. Autonomous vehicles used for commercial services carry the words “Auto Drive,” while vehicles operating in trial and testing programmes carry the word “Test.”
The system is expected to help the relevant authorities monitor autonomous vehicle movements more accurately, support road safety and ensure that operating companies comply with approved technical and operational standards. The plates also make it easier for regulators and road users to identify autonomous vehicles. In Dubai, meanwhile, plates make headlines for their price: CC44 sold for AED 6.72 million at the RTA’s latest Dubai number plate auction.
The step forms part of Abu Dhabi’s continuing efforts to develop an integrated environment for smart transport. It is part of a wider picture of the future of transport in the UAE, as the country develops solutions that include modern trains, autonomous vehicles and smart mobility systems. The EV World Dubai exhibition, held at Dubai World Trade Centre from 10 to 12 November 2026, includes a dedicated sector for future mobility and autonomous technologies. Earlier in July, Abu Dhabi Mobility opened a central control room to manage and monitor autonomous vehicle operations across the emirate.
The control room relies on advanced systems for real-time monitoring, data analysis and decision support, helping to raise safety levels and operational efficiency. It allows the relevant authorities to follow vehicle movements, monitor routes and speeds, coordinate emergency responses and issue data-based reports to improve performance.
The control room also supports permit management and the approval of operating routes, which helps regulate the use of autonomous vehicles before their use is expanded in the future. The approach resembles what is happening in other areas such as autonomous delivery technology, where UAE cities test new solutions gradually before turning them into widely available public services. In February 2026, Abu Dhabi Mobility began overseeing the first trials of Tesla’s Advanced Self-Driving (Supervised) technology on a number of the emirate’s roads, within an organised framework to assess its performance in real-world conditions and verify its safety readiness.
Abu Dhabi’s approach is not limited to road vehicles. In June, the emirate issued new requirements to regulate the testing of small autonomous or remotely operated marine vessels. The framework includes a mandatory permit system designed to ensure maritime safety, protect lives and property, and preserve the marine environment.
With the launch of dedicated plates for autonomous vehicles, Abu Dhabi continues to build a clearer and better-regulated system for the future of smart transport. The step may look simple, but it plays an important role in making autonomous vehicles easier to monitor and regulate, preparing for a stage when these technologies become a normal part of daily mobility in the emirate.
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