Uber and WeRide Launch Fully Driverless Robotaxi Service in Abu Dhabi

A year after starting a commercial robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi, WeRide and Uber can officially call their service driverless. The service, now operating without a human safety operator behind the wheel, is open to the public and will initially operate on Yas Island. This tourist hub hosts the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit.

Image Credits: Uber/WeRide

The Abu Dhabi robotaxi operations will function similarly to Uber’s partnership with Waymo in Austin. Riders selecting Uber Comfort or UberX may be matched with a WeRide robotaxi. Those wanting a higher chance of a fully autonomous ride can choose the “Autonomous” option in the Uber app. The companies are also collaborating with fleet operator Tawasul.

This launch follows WeRide securing a federal permit in the UAE for fully driverless commercial operations. Uber and WeRide plan to expand the service to additional areas in Abu Dhabi’s city centre.

“Today’s fully autonomous launch in Abu Dhabi represents a historic transportation milestone, as the first driverless AV deployment outside of the U.S. or China,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s head of autonomous mobility and delivery.

Uber has spent the last two years building partnerships with 20 autonomous vehicle technology companies worldwide, including in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. These partnerships cover a range of self-driving applications, including delivery, trucking, and robotaxis.

This year alone, Uber announced collaborations with May Mobility, Volkswagen, and Chinese self-driving firms Momenta, Pony.ai, and Baidu. A recent deal also aims to deploy Lucid Gravity SUVs equipped with Nuro’s self-driving system for a premium robotaxi service.

These partnerships are now materialising into commercial services. Uber and Waymo launched a robotaxi service in Austin earlier this year. With the Abu Dhabi launch, Uber is expanding its autonomous footprint to the Middle East, with Dubai and other cities planned.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi projected in the company’s Q3 earnings report that autonomous vehicles would operate on Uber’s network in at least 10 cities by the end of 2026. WeRide and Uber aim to expand to 15 cities across the Middle East and Europe, ultimately scaling to thousands of robotaxis. Currently, WeRide operates more than 150 robotaxis in the region.