Salalah – Oman is set to begin operational trials of self-driving vehicles in the third quarter of 2027, following the successful testing of an autonomous electric vehicle at Salalah Airport.

The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT), in cooperation with Oman Airports, conducted the trial on Monday at the airport as part of efforts to accelerate the adoption of smart and sustainable mobility solutions in the sultanate.

The trial was attended by H E Saeed bin Hamood Al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, along with a number of officials from Oman Airports.

An MTCIT official said the trial was designed to assess the vehicle’s performance in a real-world operational environment and its ability to navigate safely and intelligently using autonomous driving technologies.

The tests covered a range of capabilities, including sensing and real-time monitoring, route planning and navigation, and the vehicle’s ability to respond to its surroundings and different obstacles.

The trial also assessed the readiness of autonomous driving technologies for future expansion into a range of operational applications.

The official said the Salalah trial is part of a series of technical and pilot phases that will be conducted during the coming period, paving the way for the transition to actual operations.

The ministry, in cooperation with its partners, is targeting the start of autonomous vehicle operations in Q3 2027, with the initial phase focused on rapid delivery and last-mile logistics applications.

The applications are expected to improve delivery efficiency and the speed and reliability of services, while reducing operating costs and emissions.

The ministry said the move would also support Oman’s efforts to establish itself as an environment for testing and deploying smart and sustainable transport technologies.

The initiative is aligned with Oman’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and MTCIT’s efforts to accelerate the transition towards low-emission modes of transport.

It also supports the objectives of the Sustainable Dhofar campaign, which seeks to promote environmental solutions and sustainable practices in Dhofar.

The self-driving vehicle initiative comes amid a broader push by Oman to develop green mobility and sustainable transport solutions.

During the Gulf Green Mobility Forum 2026, held in Dhofar, the ministry announced a package of agreements, projects and initiatives based on green energy across the transport and logistics sectors, with a combined value of more than RO600mn.

Abdullah bin Ali Al Busaidi, Director General of the Oman Logistics Centre and Net Zero Expert at MTCIT, said the transformation of the transport sector had become an active development pathway based on the use of modern technologies, attraction of quality investments, infrastructure development and the creation of a supportive regulatory and legislative environment. He said the transition was aligned with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and the national goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Al Busaidi said Dhofar had a particular role to play in this transition, given the governorate’s growing focus on sustainability and the efforts of the Sustainable Dhofar campaign to promote sustainable practices and raise awareness of environmental protection.

He said the investment value of green mobility-related projects in Oman exceeded RO320 mn in 2025.

These projects cover several key areas, including ports, marine fuels, shipping, electric mobility, fast-charging centres and supporting technologies and solutions.

Al Busaidi said the investments demonstrate that the transition to green mobility represents not only an environmental pathway towards a more sustainable future, but also a significant economic and investment opportunity.

He added that projects currently under implementation are helping enhance the competitiveness of Oman’s transport sector while creating new opportunities for the private sector.