The future of transportation just arrived in Abu Dhabi — and it’s fully driverless. Uber and WeRide have officially launched the region’s first driverless robotaxi service, marking a historic milestone for global autonomous mobility. After a year of commercial pilot operations, the service is now fully open to the public with no human safety operators behind the wheel.
A Major Leap for Autonomous Transportation
Driverless cars will be introduced on Yas Island, home of the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The “Autonomous” option in the app allows riders to select a robotaxi from WeRide if they prefer a guaranteed autonomous ride.
Uber’s partnership with Waymo in Austin demonstrates how the Company is building a global platform for autonomous ride-hailing.
Powered by Strong Partnerships
Uber and WeRide are teaming up with Tawasul, a local fleet operator, to scale services across Abu Dhabi. The expansion comes just weeks after WeRide received a federal permit from the UAE to run fully driverless commercial operations — making this the first such deployment outside the U.S. or China.
Uber’s Global Autonomous Strategy Gains Momentum
Uber has been steadily building its autonomous ecosystem, partnering with over 20 global autonomous tech companies. These partnerships now span robotaxis, delivery, and self-driving trucks.
In 2024 alone, Uber announced collaborations with:
- May Mobility
- Volkswagen
- Momenta
- Pony.ai
- Baidu
- Nuro (for premium robotaxis using Lucid Gravity SUVs)
Earlier this year, Uber and Waymo launched robotaxi services in Austin. Now, with WeRide, Uber is expanding deeper into the Middle East.
Scaling to 10+ Cities by 2026
According to CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber expects to deploy autonomous vehicles in at least 10 cities by 2026. WeRide and Uber have already mapped out plans to expand to 15 cities across the Middle East and Europe, scaling to thousands of robotaxis.
This marks a massive leap from WeRide’s current fleet of 150 AVs in the region.
A Catalyst for Smart Mobility Innovation
The launch of driverless robotaxis in Abu Dhabi is more than a tech milestone — it reflects the UAE’s ambition to become a global hub for autonomous mobility. As Uber and WeRide push deeper into the market, citizens and tourists will experience more seamless, safe, and futuristic transport options.
