Uber Technologies announced the launch of Level 4 fully driverless robotaxi commercial operations in Abu Dhabi, marking the first driverless deployment in the Middle East and the first outside the United States for Uber’s autonomous platform. The service is powered by Chinese autonomous‑vehicle company WeRide, which has operated robotaxis in the emirate since 2021.
The launch was enabled by a city‑level permit issued by Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) on November 26, 2025, allowing the robotaxis to operate without a human operator. WeRide also secured a federal permit in October 2025 for fully driverless commercial operations, giving the partnership a regulatory advantage.
Riders can book the autonomous option through Uber Comfort, UberX, or a new “Autonomous” category in the Uber app. On‑board support is available via the app and an in‑vehicle tablet, ensuring passengers can request assistance if needed.
The service initially covers 12 square miles of Yas Island, with supervised operations extending to 30 square miles that include highways, the airport, and nearby islands. By the end of 2025, Uber and WeRide plan to expand coverage to additional areas of the Abu Dhabi city core, and by 2026 they aim to cover the entire emirate.
WeRide currently operates nearly 150 robotaxis in the Middle East, a fleet that is expected to grow to thousands of vehicles over the next few years. The partnership positions Uber to capture a growing autonomous mobility market in a region with high vehicle ownership and limited public transit, while avoiding the capital intensity of building its own fleet.
Management emphasized the strategic significance of the launch. Noah Zych, Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery Operations, said, “We’re thrilled to launch our partnership with WeRide and receive the support of Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre. As we take this next step in Abu Dhabi, we are excited to build on the strength of the Uber platform, helping our partners make autonomous vehicles a part of everyday life.” CEO Dara Khosrowshahi added that autonomous vehicles would be operating on the Uber platform in at least ten cities by the end of 2026.
The launch underscores Uber’s broader autonomous strategy, which relies on multiple technology partners rather than in‑house development. By leveraging WeRide’s mature technology and local operational expertise, Uber can scale its autonomous services globally without the heavy capital investment required to build and maintain its own fleet.
Analysts view the expansion as a key milestone that could accelerate Uber’s transition to a mobility‑as‑a‑service platform. While the launch does not yet generate significant revenue, it signals a shift toward higher‑margin autonomous operations that could improve profitability in the long term.
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