Elon Musk Announces Tesla’s Next Market for Full Self‑Driving Deployment
Following a high-profile weekend visit to the United Arab Emirates, Elon Musk was asked on X when Full Self-Driving (FSD) would arrive in the country. He offered an ambitious timeline, responding, “Hopefully,…”
During a high‑profile visit to the United Arab Emirates over the weekend, Elon Musk was asked on X when Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (FSD) would arrive in the country. His reply was succinct: “Hopefully, next month,” which would target a January 2026 launch and could make the UAE the fifth nation outside North America to receive FSD, after China, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
FSD versions and hardware
In North America Tesla is rolling out FSD v14, but many markets outside North America remain on FSD v13. China, Australia and New Zealand continue to use v13; South Korea is the exception already on v14. Outside North America, FSD has so far been limited to vehicles equipped with Hardware 4 (HW4). Tesla has indicated plans to support HW3 vehicles in additional regions, but a release has not yet occurred — it may be waiting for a lighter v14 build expected next year before enabling HW3 cars in those markets.
Context and policy
Musk’s timeline followed his meeting in Dubai with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Deputy Prime Minister. The UAE has been actively promoting autonomous transport: Law No. 9, passed in 2023, establishes a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles, and Dubai aims to have 25% of all trips be smart and autonomous by 2030.
Global rollout timeline
- October 2020 — United States
- March 2022 — Canada
- February 2025 — Mexico
- February 2025 — China
- August 2025 — Australia
- August 2025 — New Zealand
- November 2025 — South Korea
- January 2026 (target) — United Arab Emirates
- Coming soon — Israel
Regulatory divide
If Tesla meets the proposed UAE timeline, it will underscore a widening split in global regulation. While the European Union remains tied up in UNECE/DCAS negotiations required for systems like FSD, more agile jurisdictions such as the UAE and Israel are moving quickly to clear regulatory hurdles. Musk has previously said FSD is technically ready for global deployment and that local laws are the primary impediment. A January launch in the UAE would signal that Tesla will prioritize markets that actively enable innovation, leaving slower regulatory regions to follow.
FSD versions and hardware
In North America Tesla is rolling out FSD v14, but many markets outside North America remain on FSD v13. China, Australia and New Zealand continue to use v13; South Korea is the exception already on v14. Outside North America, FSD has so far been limited to vehicles equipped with Hardware 4 (HW4). Tesla has indicated plans to support HW3 vehicles in additional regions, but a release has not yet occurred — it may be waiting for a lighter v14 build expected next year before enabling HW3 cars in those markets.
Context and policy
Musk’s timeline followed his meeting in Dubai with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Deputy Prime Minister. The UAE has been actively promoting autonomous transport: Law No. 9, passed in 2023, establishes a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles, and Dubai aims to have 25% of all trips be smart and autonomous by 2030.
Global rollout timeline
- October 2020 — United States
- March 2022 — Canada
- February 2025 — Mexico
- February 2025 — China
- August 2025 — Australia
- August 2025 — New Zealand
- November 2025 — South Korea
- January 2026 (target) — United Arab Emirates
- Coming soon — Israel
Regulatory divide
If Tesla meets the proposed UAE timeline, it will underscore a widening split in global regulation. While the European Union remains tied up in UNECE/DCAS negotiations required for systems like FSD, more agile jurisdictions such as the UAE and Israel are moving quickly to clear regulatory hurdles. Musk has previously said FSD is technically ready for global deployment and that local laws are the primary impediment. A January launch in the UAE would signal that Tesla will prioritize markets that actively enable innovation, leaving slower regulatory regions to follow.
