![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z7BL4ENZQVFWLCYMXXKVFYPEAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=61c03075e0fcb1044df28c0aef19a52649c72ae37b8a502f98101ee9b4ffd401&width=400&height=225)
A passenger gets into the autonomous taxi on Yas Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H5225KKJQNGZDHXGVEM6ZNM4OE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e27406ca47ef4954780919456b0df4d37305a207edcf6c5de23d86c015961fe4&width=400&height=225)
The UAE's first fully autonomous taxi is being trialled on Yas Island. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PPWN2W5K2JFQJMZHJC2XAXOIJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a5429fb886cb0cea193bed560202c230a23b234d1fcb5feeed6e5b90d1a6cbc3&width=400&height=225)
Phase one of the trial allows journeys to be taken around Yas Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FHWEIQC5QFD5BM7MGC7KAG6OFA.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5981fecaf93c64892691a1cda9f5b56fb4a39259eb42cce3ba8a07b53cc3b3e&width=400&height=225)
Mustafa Wazir, safety officer, does not at any point actually touch the controls, but would do if it all went wrong.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IAORFBQMOJFNNEALHMLYRUGVBQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f7c4de149f760f727c2e0cdc7b3c052d9d4b8cec578eb1119822c895f4860300&width=400&height=225)
Inside the taxi, the route of the journey is displayed.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KDTOYBFEVZEOXBPNKSEEFXOW5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=1b5403e8b9abc74772546eaf4f4dcab383d207f5fb013c731dff5f5517d2ef9f&width=400&height=225)
A red button allows the safety officer to intervene in case something goes wrong in the fully autonomous taxi.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RTZ7M7DRW5ADJHGBGJZAASICPA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b008708f22685e3d21edd0e13714569b8c4d8d6bff8a79de7c3143488734e93&width=400&height=225)
Gillian Duncan tries out UAE's first driverless taxi on Yas Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LHHWDDMDOJD6JOMCIEGP7K5HGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a5c73fc4d6d05214cb9ef30434707d6ddc494b367b15b5306bdd708f5a10bf45&width=400&height=225)
Download the TXAI application to ride the first driverless taxi on Yas Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z7BL4ENZQVFWLCYMXXKVFYPEAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=61c03075e0fcb1044df28c0aef19a52649c72ae37b8a502f98101ee9b4ffd401&width=400&height=225)
A passenger gets into the autonomous taxi on Yas Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H5225KKJQNGZDHXGVEM6ZNM4OE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e27406ca47ef4954780919456b0df4d37305a207edcf6c5de23d86c015961fe4&width=400&height=225)
The UAE's first fully autonomous taxi is being trialled on Yas Island. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PPWN2W5K2JFQJMZHJC2XAXOIJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a5429fb886cb0cea193bed560202c230a23b234d1fcb5feeed6e5b90d1a6cbc3&width=400&height=225)
Phase one of the trial allows journeys to be taken around Yas Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FHWEIQC5QFD5BM7MGC7KAG6OFA.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5981fecaf93c64892691a1cda9f5b56fb4a39259eb42cce3ba8a07b53cc3b3e&width=400&height=225)
Mustafa Wazir, safety officer, does not at any point actually touch the controls, but would do if it all went wrong.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IAORFBQMOJFNNEALHMLYRUGVBQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f7c4de149f760f727c2e0cdc7b3c052d9d4b8cec578eb1119822c895f4860300&width=400&height=225)
Inside the taxi, the route of the journey is displayed.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KDTOYBFEVZEOXBPNKSEEFXOW5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=1b5403e8b9abc74772546eaf4f4dcab383d207f5fb013c731dff5f5517d2ef9f&width=400&height=225)
A red button allows the safety officer to intervene in case something goes wrong in the fully autonomous taxi.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RTZ7M7DRW5ADJHGBGJZAASICPA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b008708f22685e3d21edd0e13714569b8c4d8d6bff8a79de7c3143488734e93&width=400&height=225)
Gillian Duncan tries out UAE's first driverless taxi on Yas Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LHHWDDMDOJD6JOMCIEGP7K5HGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a5c73fc4d6d05214cb9ef30434707d6ddc494b367b15b5306bdd708f5a10bf45&width=400&height=225)
Download the TXAI application to ride the first driverless taxi on Yas Island.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z7BL4ENZQVFWLCYMXXKVFYPEAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=61c03075e0fcb1044df28c0aef19a52649c72ae37b8a502f98101ee9b4ffd401&width=400&height=225)
A passenger gets into the autonomous taxi on Yas Island.
What it's like to ride in the UAE's first autonomous taxi
The cars are part of a month-long trial on Yas Island from late November to December 23
![Gillian Duncan](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F736ebb26-e270-44c5-96a2-80452d783888.png?smart=true&auth=6b2c4dc0614f332daaa4e848c41f090496fd16da3ccccaa940132372e6a74710&width=70&height=70)
Gillian Duncan
30 November, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic