This country just gave the green light for self-driving vehicles on its roads

• The UAE became the first country to grant a nationwide license for self-driving cars on its roads.
• China's WeRide will be allowed to operate autonomous self-driving cars, vans, and buses in the UAE.

Self-driving cars are one step closer to becoming a fixture on the roads – in one country at least.

The United Arab Emirates just granted a nationwide license to China's WeRide to operate its robotaxis and other cars on its roads. The UAE is a federation of seven emirates that includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

"This is the first national-level autonomous driving license in the Middle East and even globally," the company said in a statement. "With this license, WeRide will conduct various road testing and operations of autonomous driving vehicles in the UAE."

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE's prime minister and ruler, tweeted Monday about the move.

As well as a robotaxi, WeRide also markets a self-driving bus, van, and street sweeper.

The license allows the company to test its Level 4 autonomous vehicles, meaning those that don't require a human to intervene in controlling the car, per SAE International.

The UAE has been ahead of other countries in introducing self-driving technology. In Dubai, Sheik Mohammed aims for a quarter of its cars to be self-driving by 2030.

Some states including Florida and Georgia, have have their own policies allowing autonomous vehicles at Level 4 and Level 5, which require no human input whatsoever.

However, this is thought to be the first license that covers a whole nation, as the UAE continues its ambitious self-driving plans.