Neolix suspends driverless deliveries in Abu Dhabi amid ME conflict

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Neolix suspends driverless deliveries in Abu Dhabi amid Iran conflict

March 5, 2026

DUBAI,— Chinese autonomous vehicle company Neolix has temporarily halted the daily operations of its driverless delivery vans in Abu Dhabi, the firm said Thursday, as tensions rise following the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.

Iran launched a series of missile attacks on Israel early Thursday, prompting millions of residents to seek shelter as the conflict entered its sixth day. The attacks occurred shortly after efforts to stop the U.S. air strikes were blocked in Washington.

Neolix issued a statement to Reuters, saying its operations in Abu Dhabi are “temporarily suspended.”

The company emphasized it will follow local authority instructions closely and prioritize the safety of personnel and operations.

The firm added that it will maintain “close, around-the-clock” communication with regulators and local partners and intends to resume and expand its autonomous delivery services as soon as conditions allow.

The situation has drawn attention from other Chinese autonomous vehicle operators in the region.

WeRide has suspended its robotaxi fleet in Dubai, while Pony.ai paused on-road testing in Doha and Dubai, resuming activities in Doha on Monday.

The U.S. and Israel carried out coordinated air strikes against Iran over the weekend, killing Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with more than 40 senior military officials in Tehran and other cities.

In retaliation, Iran launched waves of missiles and armed drones toward targets in the Gulf region, including major airports, seaports, hotels and populated neighborhoods in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Neolix has been operating self-driving RoboVans in Abu Dhabi to support the UAE’s smart city logistics plans. The company works in partnership with e-commerce platform noon.com and local tech firm K2.

The compact vans handle last-mile deliveries, transporting parcels, express packages, and freight across the city.

The vehicles are designed for the region’s desert climate and varied terrain and can make refrigerated deliveries for fresh goods. Neolix holds the UAE’s first robovan operating license and is part of a larger wave of autonomous delivery trials that are reshaping urban logistics across the Gulf.

The ongoing conflict has caused concern for companies relying on autonomous operations in key Middle Eastern hubs, prompting several to adjust services as safety and regulatory compliance remain a priority.

(With files from Reuters)