Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: The Saudi Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services (MOTLS), the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources (MIM), and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) launched the Future Mobility Sandbox, a game-changing hub for global transport technologies, to revolutionize the mobility landscape.

The Sandbox will cover 1.56 square kilometers and provide a unique test bed for air, land, and sea transport innovation on the KAUST campus along the Red Sea, KAUST announced in a statement yesterday.

The Future Mobility Sandbox will provide a controlled environment for testing and development, resulting in enhanced mobility solutions that are safer, more efficient, and environmentally sustainable.

Aiming to spearhead innovation in autonomous, sustainable, and connected transport solutions, this initiative is expected to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and improve road safety while reducing vehicle-related accidents.

Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh Al-Jasser, stated that launching the Sandbox represents a milestone for the Kingdom and the future of global mobility. “This initiative aims to create a dynamic ecosystem where ideas are tested, solutions are born, and the impossible becomes real. Together, we are charting a new course—one that puts Saudi Arabia at the forefront of sustainable, intelligent, and interconnected transportation,” he said.

For his part, Abdullah Alahmari, Assistant Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Planning and Development, said that the collaboration with MOTLS and KAUST marks a new chapter in cross-ministerial efforts to unlock the full potential of Saudi Arabia’s automotive and industrial sectors.

“The Future Mobility Sandbox will play a critical role in achieving our goals under the National Industrial Strategy by providing manufacturers and suppliers a platform to test, validate, and scale advanced vehicle technologies,” he stated.

Edward Byrne, President of KAUST, affirmed that the Sandbox is a catalyst to enable researchers, startups, and industry to co-create real-world mobility solutions.

Moreover, the Future Mobility Sandbox enables the testing of connected and autonomous vehicles, EVTOL aircraft, logistics drones, and maritime technologies.

On the sidelines of the launch of the Future Mobility Sandbox project, MOTLS and MIM announced a joint collaboration under a national enabling initiative aimed at advancing infrastructure for the vehicle manufacturing, transport, and logistics sectors.