Uber and WeRide introduce driverless robotaxis in Abu Dhabi

Uber has recently launched fully driverless robotaxis in Abu Dhabi through a partnership with the Chinese autonomous-driving company WeRide, marking the first time the ride-hailing platform has offered driverless services outside the United States. 

The deployment follows the agreement the two companies announced last year and positions Abu Dhabi as a major testing ground for autonomous mobility in the Middle East.

The companies have started by operating autonomous vehicles on Yas Island, where passengers booking an UberX or Uber Comfort ride may be matched with a WeRide-operated robotaxi. Uber has also introduced a dedicated "Autonomous" option within the app, its first global category specifically for driverless vehicles. 

WeRide, which has been operating autonomous vehicles in Abu Dhabi since 2021, secured a national licence in 2023 allowing it to test and operate self-driving cars across the UAE, subject to approval in individual emirates, according to Uber.

In recent months, the company has expanded its commercial services in partnership with Uber and Tawasul, a local fleet operator, covering a significant portion of the city's core districts. The new service forms part of the UAE's wider push to integrate autonomous mobility into public transport networks and reduce reliance on human-driven vehicles. Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre has endorsed the programme as part of its smart mobility strategy.

Uber and WeRide expect to expand driverless coverage beyond central Abu Dhabi by the end of the year, with longer-term plans to scale to several thousand robotaxis across the region. 

While autonomous vehicles remain restricted or tightly regulated in many cities worldwide, Abu Dhabi's broad licensing framework has made it one of the few locations outside China and the United States to host large-scale commercial robotaxi operations.