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Dubai Crown Prince Takes Test Ride In Self-Driving Taxi
The Chevrolet Bolt-based Cruise AVs are helping to cement Dubai’s position as a global leader of self-driving transport.
Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, recently took the first demo test ride of a Chevrolet Bolt-based Cruise autonomous vehicle (AV) in Jumeirah.
The Dubai Crown Prince was welcomed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Dubai Police and a team of engineers from the RTA and Cruise. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA said, “Autonomous vehicles will play a pivotal role in offering innovative solutions for transportation challenges, curbing urban congestion, and elevating road safety. They support the RTA’s efforts to leverage the integration between mass transport systems and easing the mobility of public transport riders, providing services to many underserved users such as senior residents and People of Determination”.
In April 2021, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Cruise entered a partnership to introduce a self-driving ride-hail service. The testing of Cruise AVs marks a crucial step toward enhancing Dubai’s position as a global leader in self-driving transport. The emirate aims to convert 25% of all mobility journeys to self-driving modes by 2030.
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In April this year, digital mapping for self-driving Cruise vehicles took place in Jumeirah 1 using the company’s HD mapping technology. Cruise initiated limited vehicle testing in October, deploying five autonomous taxis overseen by safety drivers. The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority plans to soon introduce a public registration process, enabling selected residents to use the Cruise ride-hailing app.
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Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
The e-commerce startup is aiming to tap into the Kingdom’s underdeveloped e-grocery sector with a tech-first, locally rooted strategy.
Rabbit, an Egyptian-born hyperlocal e-commerce startup, is expanding into the Saudi Arabian market, setting its sights on delivering 20 million items across major cities by 2026.
The company, founded in 2021, is already operational in the Kingdom, with its regional headquarters now open in Riyadh and an established network of strategically located fulfillment centers — commonly known as “dark stores” — across the capital.
The timing is strategic: Saudi Arabia’s online grocery transactions currently sit at 1.3%, notably behind the UAE (5.3%) and the United States (4.8%). With the Kingdom’s food and grocery market estimated at $60 billion, even a modest increase in online adoption could create a multi-billion-dollar opportunity.
Rabbit also sees a clear alignment between its business goals and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to boost retail sector innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises, attract foreign investment, and develop a robust digital economy.
The company’s e-commerce model is based on speed and efficiency. Delivery of anything from groceries and snacks to cosmetics and household staples is promised in 20 minutes or less, facilitated by a tightly optimized logistics system — a crucial component in a sector where profit margins and delivery expectations are razor-thin.
Despite the challenges, Rabbit has already found its stride in Egypt. In just over three years, the app has been used by 1.4 million customers to deliver more than 40 million items. Revenue has surged, growing more than eightfold in the past two years alone.
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CEO and Co-Founder Ahmad Yousry commented: “We are delighted to announce Rabbit’s expansion into the Kingdom. We pride ourselves on being a hyperlocal company, bringing our bleeding-edge tech and experience to transform the grocery shopping experience for Saudi households, and delivering the best products – especially local favorites, in just 20 minutes”.
The company’s growth strategy avoids the pitfalls of over-reliance on aggressive discounting. Instead, Rabbit leans on operational efficiency, customer retention, and smart scaling. The approach is paying off, having already attracted major investment from the likes of Lorax Capital Partners, Global Ventures, Raed Ventures, and Beltone Venture Capital, alongside earlier investors such as Global Founders Capital, Goodwater Capital, and Hub71.
Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
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