Tesla is making significant strides in its quest for global autonomy. This week, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) officially became another testing ground for the company’s self-driving software. The Integrated Transport Centre, also known as Abu Dhabi Mobility, announced that it is now overseeing Tesla’s first "Advanced Self-Driving (Supervised)" road trials in Abu Dhabi.
These trials are being conducted under strict driver supervision within a government-regulated framework. The primary goal is to assess how the technology handles real-world conditions in the region while verifying its operational safety before a wider rollout. Dr. Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director General of Abu Dhabi Mobility, noted that the tests represent a "qualitative step to evaluate the technology’s performance in a real-world operating environment and to collect the necessary data to verify its readiness.”
With support of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council, @ad_mobility, a @AbuDhabiDMT affiliate, has announced Tesla’s first Advanced Self-Driving (Supervised) road trials in Abu Dhabi, conducted under driver supervision to assess performance and safety in real-world conditions. pic.twitter.com/OvUrWRODcg
— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) February 26, 2026
FSD in the UAE
The road to this moment began last December when Elon Musk named the UAE as the next major market for Full Self-Driving (Supervised). While the original goal was a January 2026 launch, the start of these road trials puts the UAE on track to become the eighth country to offer the software. It joins an exclusive list that includes the U.S., Canada, Mexico, China (currently awaiting full regulatory approval), Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.
Interestingly, while North American drivers are currently using the latest FSD v14, most other global markets, including China and Australia, are still on the older v13. South Korea is the only other nation outside North America currently utilizing v14.
What Exactly is Tesla FSD?
Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is Tesla's most advanced driver-assistance system. It allows the car to navigate city streets, handle intersections, and make turns, though it currently still requires a human driver to remain attentive at all times. The software is constantly evolving, with Tesla pushing frequent over-the-air updates to make it more confident and competent as the company moves toward a fully autonomous future.
Expanding the Horizon: Where is FSD Heading Next?
The UAE isn't the only region on Tesla’s radar. The company has teased an upcoming launch in Israel as well as regulatory approval in Europe. Tesla originally planned to launch in Europe by February 2026, and while we are currently in the final week of that month, formal approval has yet to be announced.
Tesla is already authorized to test FSD privately in European markets like Sweden, and the automaker is continuously seeking permission to expand testing. Despite this, the company is still struggling to secure the public approval needed for a broader regional rollout. To help convince regulators, Tesla even launched a well-received FSD ride-along program across Europe last year to showcase the system’s safety. Recently, references found on Tesla’s Dutch website also hinted at upcoming monthly FSD subscriptions for European owners, but we still don’t have a concrete timeline on when the feature could finally arrive in Europe.
As these FSD road trials in Abu Dhabi progress, they will provide the critical data needed to bring autonomous driving to more corners of the globe.
