Uber has expanded its autonomous transportation push by launching fully driverless robotaxi rides in Abu Dhabi, marking its first deployment in the Middle East. The rollout is powered by WeRide, a Chinese autonomous vehicle company and existing Uber partner. Riders requesting UberX or Uber Comfort can now be matched with a WeRide robotaxi operating in designated zones on Yas Island.
The launch follows earlier test phases in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where Uber and WeRide began offering rides with safety operators on board. Uber has been accelerating its autonomous strategy globally, with driverless services already live in Austin, Phoenix, and Atlanta through partnerships with Waymo, and long-term collaborations with Lucid and Nuro.
WeRide, which already operates driverless fleets in Beijing and Guangzhou, is central to Uber’s plan to expand robotaxi services to 15 additional cities over the next five years. Support for riders in Abu Dhabi is available directly through the Uber app and an in-vehicle tablet.