Elon Musk has indicated that Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology could be introduced in the United Arab Emirates as early as January 2026. This announcement came shortly after Musk's visit to Dubai, where he met with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai. The UAE aims for 25% of all transportation in Dubai to be smart and autonomous by 2030.
Currently, Tesla's FSD version 14 is available in North America, while most other regions, including China and Australia, still utilize version 13. South Korea is the sole exception, having access to version 14. The rollout of FSD in the UAE will focus on vehicles equipped with hardware version 4, with plans for future support of hardware version 3.
This expansion reflects a broader trend where nations like the UAE are moving quickly to adopt autonomous vehicle regulations, contrasting with slower regulatory processes in regions such as the European Union. By entering the UAE market, Tesla is prioritizing innovation-friendly environments, leaving more bureaucratic areas to adapt later.