Initiative endorsed by Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre
WeRide, a global leader in autonomous driving technology, and Uber Technologies, recently announced the launch of Level 4 fully driverless Robotaxi commercial operations in Abu Dhabi.
This marks the first driverless deployment in the Middle East, as well as the first city outside the United States to host fully driverless operations on the Uber platform. The launch was supported by the world’s first city-level fully driverless Robotaxi permit outside the U.S.
This milestone represents a major step toward the large-scale deployment of self-driving mobility solutions in the UAE, made possible through WeRide and Uber’s continued partnership with the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) and fleet operator Tawasul.
Operational licence
Following this, the ITC granted WeRide and Tawasul the first operational licence for a fully driverless commercial Robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi. The initial phase will be operated jointly by WeRide and Tawasul on the Uber platform.
With the fully driverless commercial launch, latest permit, and ongoing improvements in vehicle utilization, the WeRide-Uber Robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi are on track to achieve breakeven unit economics.
In December 2024, WeRide and Uber launched their Robotaxi ride-hailing partnership in Abu Dhabi, the largest commercial Robotaxi service outside the U.S. and China.
The partnership expanded in July 2025 to cover about half of Abu Dhabi’s core areas, including Al Reem and Al Maryah. By the end of 2025, WeRide and Uber plan to extend services to cover additional areas in Abu Dhabi city core. WeRide currently has over 100 Robotaxis in the Middle East.
