Learner drivers in Sharjah could soon sit their city road exams inside a vehicle that watches, coaches, and scores them without a human examiner in charge. The car, still awaiting final sign-off, was put on show this week as a preview of where the emirate’s testing may be headed.
Lt. Col. Ahmed Mohammed Al Suwaidi, who heads the Drivers Licensing Department, said the vehicle relies on artificial intelligence to walk candidates through their assessment and hand down a verdict once the drive is finished. Trial runs so far have gone well, he said, though nothing will be confirmed for real-world testing until the required approvals come through.
Consistency and openness are the goals, according to Al Suwaidi. The system keeps video records, which means a candidate can be shown exactly where they went wrong rather than simply being told they failed.
“The smart vehicle aligns with the idea behind ‘Darbak Sahl’ because it shortens and simplifies the customer journey,” Al Suwaidi said.
That initiative, run by the Vehicle and Drivers Licensing Department, opened Thursday, August 20, near the cinema at City Centre Al Zahia and continues through Sunday. Sharjah Police describe it as a push to deepen ties with partner organizations and widen the menu of services on offer to the public. The displayed car itself is not open for anyone to drive during the event.
Mohsen Ali, a customer-service supervisor at Al Shamil Driving Institute, said the vehicle carries eight sensors and cameras and is built to mimic genuine road conditions. A person can still step in should an emergency arise, he added.
Beyond the AI car, the event carries a range of discounts and hands-on features. Sharjah Driving Institute is cutting light-vehicle training fees by 30 percent across both automatic and manual courses. A free driving simulator is on hand as well, pitched at younger visitors such as secondary-school students who can sample driving situations under supervision before enrolling in lessons. The simulator can reproduce rain, fog, snow, and desert terrain.
Partner deals round out the lineup. AutoPro is running free tire checks, Rafid has knocked 25 percent off its remote technical-inspection service, the Sharjah Classic Cars Club is halving membership fees, and Emirates Auction is offering 20 percent off number plates sold through its platform.
Al Suwaidi noted the technology fits the wider aim of trimming the steps a customer has to take, with the video-based feedback meant to leave no doubt about the reasons behind a given result.
