Uber, WeRide Partner to Launch Driverless Autonomous Taxis in Abu Dhabi

Uber and WeRide have announced the launch of their fully autonomous taxi service in Abu Dhabi. The WeRide cars are capable of L4 autonomy, which means no human intervention is necessary. They can also drive without any occupants between rides, though routes might be limited. No backup driver or safety monitor will be present in any of the vehicles. 

The companies have a city-wide permit for driverless operations, making Abu Dhabi the second robotaxi launch for Uber, and its first outside the US. 

Commercial operations have begun on Yas Island, and will soon expand to other areas. Uber users in Abu Dhabi can already see a new Autonomous category when selecting their type of ride, which the company says is the first time this has been implemented anywhere in the world. Riders might also be offered one if choosing UberX or Uber Comfort, if available on their route. If matched with one of these new cars, they can choose to decline and wait for a regular Uber cab instead.

While there are 150 autonomous vehicles in its fleet at present, WeRide projects tens of thousands will be in service across the middle-east region by 2030. The company has been conducting trials since 2021, including on public roads. As of October 2025, the company’s robotaxis have covered nearly a million kilometers across Abu Dhabi.

WeRide robotaxis are also available on the Uber platform in Riyadh, with a pilot project underway in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, and trials with a safety officer onboard set to start in Dubai soon as well. 

WeRide already offers autonomous taxi services in some areas of Beijing and Guangzhou, with a launch in Singapore and Hong Kong imminent. The company says its ability to operate in Abu Dhabi without humans in each vehicle will help it achieve unit economics and break even soon. It also offers autonomous buses in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and a robosweeper sanitation vehicle in multiple cities in China, South-East Asia, and the Middle East.