Uber has officially launched its first fully driverless robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi, marking a historic development for both the ride-hailing industry and the Middle East’s transportation sector. This rollout makes Abu Dhabi Uber’s fourth autonomous vehicle market worldwide, joining U.S. cities like Austin, Phoenix, and Atlanta. It also marks the first time Uber is offering Level 4 autonomous rides anywhere in the region.
The launch is the result of a strategic partnership with WeRide, a leading Chinese autonomous vehicle company listed on Nasdaq. Uber incorporates these robotaxis into its extensive ride-hailing network, while WeRide supplies the self-driving technology that powers the cars. Both locals and visitors to Abu Dhabi can now order a driverless WeRide robotaxi directly through the Uber app when choosing UberX or Uber Comfort.
The rollout begins on public roads across Yas Island, giving users the opportunity to experience hands-free, fully autonomous travel for the first time in the Middle East. This milestone follows earlier collaborations between Uber and WeRide, which previously deployed autonomous vehicles with safety operators in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. The fully driverless launch signifies a leap from testing to true commercial deployment.
This partnership between WeRide and Uber is far from over. The firms anticipate introducing WeRide-powered robotaxis to 15 more cities worldwide, including some in Europe, as part of a five-year expansion strategy. This places the launch in Abu Dhabi as the start of Uber’s autonomous fleet strategy’s wider worldwide development.
Uber’s move into driverless mobility is built on partnerships rather than in-house development. After winding down its internal self-driving division years ago, Uber has shifted toward integrating proven autonomous technologies from leading companies around the world.
In the United States, Uber’s partnership with Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, has already enabled autonomous rides in Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta. Uber has also inked a six-year robotaxi partnership with luxury EV maker Lucid, alongside additional collaborations with Nuro for autonomous deliveries. These alliances allow Uber to deploy self-driving services faster, without absorbing the enormous costs and technical burdens of running its own autonomous development labs.
By integrating partner fleets such as WeRide’s robotaxis into its app, Uber is steadily building a global autonomous ride-hailing network that spans multiple continents. The Abu Dhabi launch demonstrates how this strategy enables Uber to introduce fully autonomous mobility in new markets quickly and efficiently.
What This Means for the Middle East
Abu Dhabi’s early adoption of autonomous transport underscores the region’s growing embrace of AI-driven solutions. Government-backed regulatory support has played a crucial role, enabling safe deployments on public roads and positioning the UAE as a leader in smart mobility.
As the service expands across more locations in Abu Dhabi, the city is expected to become a global reference point for large-scale, commercial autonomous transport. This launch is not just a technological milestone—it’s a preview of how ride-hailing, urban transport, and AI-powered mobility will evolve worldwide.
