Autonomous mobility has reached a major milestone in the UAE as Abu Dhabi begins pilot trials of fully driverless robotaxis, making it the first city in the Middle East to do so.
Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide announced the launch on Friday, confirming that its fleet of robotaxis will begin operating on public roads this quarter without any safety driver onboard.
Expansion to key islands
Following regulatory approval, commercial driverless rides and service expansions are expected to roll out from summer 2025. The pilot phase will initially include Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island, both considered high-demand zones.
These locations build on WeRide’s earlier deployments across Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, and links to Zayed International Airport, where trials have been ongoing since 2021.
Regional and global reach
Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International Business at WeRide, stated, “In parallel, we are expanding commercial service to high-demand areas like Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands – bringing smart mobility solutions to more users in the Middle East. Together, these demonstrate our technological maturity while moving us closer to mass commercialisation of Robotaxis.”
WeRide’s announcement in Abu Dhabi follows its recent success in China, where the company has launched eight fully driverless ride-hailing routes operating around the clock in central Guangzhou – the first such network in a major Chinese city.
Licensed and active in UAE
WeRide was granted the UAE’s first national self-driving vehicle license in July 2023, allowing it to operate autonomous vehicles on public roads nationwide.
In December 2024, it partnered with Uber to launch a robotaxi-based ride-hailing service in Abu Dhabi, marking the largest commercial deployment of its kind outside the US and China.
The company is also a member of the Abu Dhabi Smart and Autonomous Systems Council’s working group, which focuses on infrastructure and policy development for autonomous transport.
In a related move, Dubai plans to introduce its own fleet of self-driving electric taxis starting in early 2026.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
