Elon Musk’s Starlink & Self-Driving Cars to Launch Operations in Saudi

Saudi Arabia has officially approved the use of Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, for deployment across aviation and maritime sectors. The announcement was made during the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, coinciding with US President Donald Trump's visit to the Kingdom - his first trip to the Middle East during his second term.

Starlink, operated by Musk's aerospace company SpaceX, aims to provide high-speed internet connectivity, particularly in areas with limited infrastructure. The approval in Saudi Arabia marks a significant expansion of the service, which is already available in over 125 countries.

In addition to the Starlink announcement, Musk expressed intentions to introduce Tesla's self-driving cars - specifically his robotaxi service - to Saudi Arabia. The announcement builds on groundwork laid during LEAP 2024, the tech conference held annually in Riyadh. During the March edition, officials from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services confirmed that legislative frameworks for regulating self-driving cars were underway. The panel also discussed the integration of drones, AI, and smart sensors into transport systems.

These developments align with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which emphasises the diversification of the economy through technological innovation and infrastructure development. The Kingdom has been actively pursuing advancements in transportation and digital connectivity as part of its broader economic transformation goals.