Uber Launches Fully Driverless Robotaxi Service in Abu Dhabi With WeRide Partnership

Uber announced the launch of fully driverless robotaxi rides in Abu Dhabi, expanding its autonomous ride offerings beyond the United States for the first time. The new service, developed in partnership with WeRide, represents the Middle East’s first commercial robotaxi deployment.

Riders in the UAE capital can now request a WeRide robotaxi when selecting UberX or Uber Comfort. The launch follows WeRide’s initial rollout of autonomous rides with an onboard operator in Abu Dhabi last year, after forming a partnership with Uber in September 2024. The two companies also began offering supervised robotaxi rides in Riyadh earlier this year.

Uber has aggressively expanded its AV footprint. It already operates robotaxi services in Austin, Phoenix and Atlanta through a collaboration with Waymo, and signed a six-year agreement with Lucid and Nuro to bolster future deployments. WeRide, meanwhile, runs fully driverless robotaxi fleets in Beijing and Guangzhou.

The new driverless vehicles in Abu Dhabi will operate primarily on Yas Island, one of the city’s key entertainment districts. Riders can increase their chances of getting a robotaxi by selecting the autonomous ride option in the app. Support during the journey is available via the Uber app and through an in-car tablet.

Uber has not disclosed how revenue from robotaxi fares is shared with its partners, but the company has made clear that autonomous mobility is a long-term strategic focus. In May, Uber said it aims to roll out the WeRide-powered service to 15 more cities globally that including locations in Europe within five years.

Competition in the autonomous ride-hailing sector continues to intensify. Lyft recently announced it will deploy Waymo robotaxis in Nashville next year.

Uber’s Abu Dhabi launch signals a major milestone in the regional transport landscape, bringing fully driverless rides to the Middle East for the first time and advancing Uber’s ambition to operate a global autonomous fleet.