This country just gave the green light for self-driving vehicles on its roads

This country just gave the green light for self-driving vehicles on its roads

Self-driving cars are one step closer to becoming a fixture on the roads – in one country at least. The United Arab Emirates just granted a nationwide license to China's WeRide to operate its robotaxis and other cars on its roads. The UAE is a federation of seven emirates that includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi. "This is the first national-level autonomous driving license in the Middle East and even globally," the company said in a . "With this license, WeRide will conduct various road testing and operations of autonomous driving vehicles in the UAE." Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE's prime minister and ruler, Monday about the move. As well as a robotaxi, WeRide also a self-driving bus, van, and street sweeper. The license allows the company to test its Level 4 autonomous vehicles, meaning those that don't require a human to intervene in controlling the car, . The UAE has been ahead of other countries in introducing self-driving technology. In Dubai, Sheik Mohammed for a quarter of its cars to be self-driving by 2030. Some states including and , have have their own policies allowing autonomous vehicles at Level 4 and Level 5, which require no human