Uber has expanded its autonomous vehicle footprint to the Middle East, launching driverless robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi through a partnership with Chinese AV company WeRide. This marks Uber’s fourth market for fully automated rides, following Austin, Phoenix, and Atlanta in the U.S.
The introduction of these vehicles in Yas Island represents a significant milestone as it is the first such service to operate without human oversight in the Middle East region. Previously, Uber had been testing autonomous technology with safety operators on board since December 2023 in Abu Dhabi, and similarly in Riyadh earlier this year.
Riders can now book WeRide robotaxis through the Uber app by selecting the autonomous option when requesting an UberX or Uber Comfort ride. The service is currently limited to specific areas of Yas Island, with onboard support available via the app and a tablet inside the vehicle should any issues arise during the journey.
Uber’s bet on autonomous technology has seen it forge several strategic partnerships over recent years. In addition to WeRide, Uber also works closely with Waymo in the U.S., having launched robotaxi services through this collaboration earlier in 2023 and 2024. The company’s latest deal is a six-year agreement with Lucid and Nuro for further expansion of its autonomous fleet.
WeRide itself has been making strides in China, where it offers full driverless operations in Beijing and Guangzhou since last year. This partnership with Uber aims to bring similar technology to other global markets over the next five years, with plans to launch services in 15 additional cities across Europe and beyond.
Competitors such as Lyft have also embraced autonomous vehicle technology, recently announcing a deal with Waymo for robotaxi launches in Nashville. As the industry continues to evolve, it’s clear that driverless cars are becoming an integral part of urban transportation solutions. This shift mirrors the transition from manual transmissions to automatics and subsequently to electric vehicles over the past decades.
