Get Ready For A New Kind Of Ride: Abu Dhabi Launches Fully Driverless Robotaxi Service

Published on November 27, 2025

Recently, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, became the first city outside the United States to operate fully driverless robotaxis, making it the first city to experience fully driverless technologies. This partnership with Uber Technologies Inc. and autonomous driving industry leader WeRide started on December 1, 2025, and opened a new era of driverless technology in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi is now recognized as a leader in innovative technology in the transport sector.

WeRide, Uber, and Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) organized the launch. They all partook of the UAE’s vision of smart and technological mobility to integrate self-driving vehicles into the Middle East. This step aligns the UAE’s futuristic vision on new transport systems with the driverless technology in the market.

Abu Dhabi has Provided Driverless Robotaxi Services

Abu Dhabi was the first to allow drivers to operate robotaxis. This Innovation was possible after Uber partnered with the company to provide the service. This is a milestone achievement for the city. This service is now available to the public who can use the Uber app.

The robotaxi rides can be booked in 3 ways: Uber Comfort, UberX, or the novel category in the app titled ‘Autonomous’. This category is the first globally for a fully self-autonomous vehicle service. First, there will be no autonomous vehicle specialists in the vehicle. WeRide fully self-autonomous vehicles have been released to the public in a first for the AV industry.

As per the agreement signed with Uber and Tawasul, the autonomous vehicles are expected to operate with maximum efficiency, prioritizing the comfort and safety of the passengers on board. Consequently, Abu Dhabi is among the first cities in the world to achieve a significant milestone, as the fleet functions with no human drivers.

A New Chapter for Smart Mobility in the UAE

The project with Uber and WeRide marks a new milestone in the capabilities of self-driving vehicles and the infrastructure of Abu Dhabi. The forward-looking vision of the UAE for smart mobility continues to embrace the new technologies for fast-tracking the country’s leadership position in the global mobility and transport arena.

The ITC’s approval, after WeRide secured fully driverless robotaxi operations across Abu Dhabi, represents a huge milestone in the region’s embrace of innovation. The swift availability of operational licenses portrays a deepening trust in autonomous technologies, especially in the collaboration between the private and public sectors in the UAE.

Presently, more than 100 robotaxis are operating in the Middle East, and WeRide continues to grow. The company began testing autonomous vehicles in Abu Dhabi in 2021, then in 2023, WeRide became the first in the UAE to obtain a national permit for a complete range of autonomous vehicles. These achievements made it possible to commence commercially operating autonomous vehicles in Abu Dhabi.

Future Developments and Expansion in the Middle East

WeRide and Uber’s collaboration is more than the first launch in Abu Dhabi. The entities are poised to extend their robotaxi operations throughout the Middle East in the coming years. By the end of 2025, the firms intend to cover more of Abu Dhabi’s service areas, particularly major destinations in the city center. Expansion is in line with the two companies’ objectives to attain positive unit economics through optimized vehicle and operational efficiency.

The aim of the WeRide-Uber robotaxi service to scale in Abu Dhabi will incorporate more of the city’s autonomous vehicles, adding new routes to underserved, high-demand areas of the city. WeRide has proven its capacity to grow, working with Uber on Advanced Transport Services in Abu Dhabi since 2024.

In partnership with Abu Dhabi’s government, WeRide will be scaling its services and establishing other robotaxi deployments in Saudi Arabia and other nearby countries. The aim is to develop a comprehensive self-driving vehicle and public transportation service ecosystem.

Industry Leader Due to The First-Mover Advantage and Focus on Continuous Improvement

Over these last four years, the company’s ability to deploy autonomous vehicles has helped WeRide consolidate its leadership position in the sector. Thanks to the company’s ongoing regulatory partnerships, competitors have to cede these regions. WeRide’s platforms will be at the forefront to help drive the company’s success as the autonomous sector matures.

The regulatory framework in the UAE has been a key pillar in WeRide’s order deployments and expansion. It offers WeRide the ability to operate in the UAE and maintain compliance with public safety laws, while the country’s vision of being a world leader in smart mobility services is fulfilled.

Conclusion: A Milestone in Abu Dhabi’s Smart Mobility Vision

The commencement of fully driverless robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi is a landmark development in the city’s quest to become a smart mobility leader. Continued partnership between WeRide and Uber is expected to drive the deployment of autonomous vehicles in the region. With the expansion of the service, more passengers in Abu Dhabi will have the opportunity to access autonomous ride-hailing services, which will help redefine urban mobility in the UAE.

This is the first fully driverless robotaxi service in the Middle East, and it demonstrates the revolutionary impact advanced technologies can have on mobility. The partnerships between WeRide and Uber, accompanied by a growing fleet and plans to further expand, will likely serve as a blueprint for other countries to follow in launching projects aimed at the widespread use of self-driving vehicles in urban mobility.