Today's Edition
A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
Autonomous mobility has moved a step further in the UAE when WeRide and Uber tied up to offer driverless rides in certain designated areas of Dubai, even as the partnership has already progressed to fully driverless commercial operations in Abu Dhabi.
The two companies have launched autonomous ride-hailing services on the Uber app in partnership with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), allowing the public to book Robotaxi trips in selected parts of the city, according to a joint press release.
The service is currently available across areas spanning Jumeirah 1 to Umm Suqeim 3, operating during limited hours. A number of WeRide autonomous vehicles are already live on the Uber app, and the fleet is expected to expand in the coming months, the company said.
During the initial trial phase in Dubai, rides booked under the autonomous option will be free of charge for users, an Uber spokesperson told Aletihad.
The current phase in Dubai is being conducted with an autonomous vehicle specialist on board, seated in the driver’s seat to help ensure a safe and reliable experience. This approach contrasts with the more advanced deployment already underway in Abu Dhabi, where WeRide and Uber last month rolled out the Middle East’s first fully driverless Robotaxi commercial operations, with no vehicle specialist inside the vehicle.
In Abu Dhabi, public commercial operations began on Yas Island after the service secured what Uber described as the world’s first city-level fully driverless Robotaxi permit outside the United States. The initiative was endorsed by Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre and is being operated in partnership with fleet operator Tawasul.
The Abu Dhabi service allows passengers to be matched with a WeRide Robotaxi through UberX, Uber Comfort, or the dedicated “Autonomous” category on the Uber app. Uber said the fully driverless launch builds on several years of testing, noting that WeRide has operated Robotaxis in Abu Dhabi since 2021 and received a national licence in 2023 covering autonomous testing and operations across the UAE, subject to emirate-level approvals.
The Dubai launch follows a collaborative pilot programme and testing phase that began after the initial partnership announcement in April this year, enabling what the companies described as a safe and smooth transition towards autonomous mobility.
Jennifer Li, Chief Financial Officer and Head of International at WeRide, said: “Our progress in Dubai is enabled by our autonomous driving technology that has been tested and validated worldwide,” she said. “We are expanding rapidly across the Middle East and globally, driven by our vision to deploy tens of thousands of Robotaxis by 2030. We are pleased to partner with forward-thinking regulators like RTA, who share a similarly bold commitment to advancing autonomous mobility, and with Uber, whose global platform will help accelerate the adoption of driverless transportation.”
Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous at Uber, said: “As the world’s largest hybrid network of human drivers and AVs, Uber is building the future of transportation, and we are thrilled by the pace of autonomous adoption in the UAE and the Middle East. This launch in Dubai is a testament to our ongoing commitment to the UAE’s vision for the future of mobility, and contributes directly to Dubai’s goal of achieving 25% autonomous journeys by 2030.”
Uber said the Dubai deployment forms part of its wider effort to work with autonomous vehicle developers globally. The company is currently collaborating with more than 20 autonomous vehicle partners across mobility, delivery and freight, with millions of autonomous trips already completed annually on its platform worldwide.
In the region, Uber said it already offers commercial autonomous rides with WeRide through its app in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, and that thousands of autonomous trips have taken place in the UAE to date.
Both companies plan to scale their Middle East operations to thousands of Robotaxis over the coming years.
The phased approach — moving from specialist-assisted rides in Dubai to fully driverless services in Abu Dhabi — reflects close cooperation between technology developers, ride-hailing platforms and regulators, and underscores the importance of clear, streamlined and predictable regulatory frameworks to scale autonomous mobility safely.
