Abu Dhabi launches Middle East’s first fully driverless Robotaxi service with Uber, WeRide

Abu Dhabi has become the first city outside the United States — and the first in the Middle East — to host fully driverless robotaxi operations on the Uber platform, as WeRide and Uber launched Level 4 autonomous commercial services in the UAE capital.

The milestone marks a major acceleration of Abu Dhabi’s autonomous mobility strategy, enabled by the world’s first city-level permit for fully driverless Robotaxis issued outside the US.

WeRide and Uber Technologies said public commercial operations have commenced on Yas Island without a vehicle specialist inside the autonomous vehicle.

Robotaxis in Abu Dhabi

Passengers can now request WeRide Robotaxis through Uber Comfort, UberX and Uber’s new “Autonomous” category — the platform’s first dedicated autonomous ride option anywhere in the world.

The launch follows WeRide securing a federal permit in October 2025 to conduct fully driverless Robotaxi commercial operations. Subsequently, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) granted WeRide and Tawasul the first operational licence for a fully driverless commercial Robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi.

The initial phase will be jointly operated by WeRide and Tawasul on the Uber platform.

WeRide and Uber said the commercial deployment, supported by the latest permit and improving vehicle utilisation, puts their Abu Dhabi Robotaxi services on track to achieve breakeven unit economics.

WeRide and Uber partnership

The initiative also forms part of a wider regional expansion strategy, with WeRide and Uber planning to scale to thousands of Robotaxis across the Middle East in the coming years.

WeRide holds a four-year first-mover advantage in Abu Dhabi after beginning Robotaxi operations in 2021.

In 2023, the company became the first in the UAE to receive a national licence covering all self-driving vehicle types, authorising autonomous testing and operations on public roads across the country, subject to emirate-level approvals.

In December 2024, WeRide and Uber launched their Robotaxi ride-hailing partnership in Abu Dhabi — the largest commercial Robotaxi deployment outside the US and China.

The service expanded in July 2025 to cover around half of Abu Dhabi’s core areas, including Al Reem and Al Maryah. By the end of 2025, the companies plan to extend operations to additional parts of the city core.

WeRide currently operates more than 100 Robotaxis in the Middle East.