WeRide has carried out the first robotaxi trial in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi, with the cars running on streets on their own without anyone else in the car. By taking this move, the UAE is making big progress toward smarter mobility.
This coming quarter, WeRide will expand its service to include Al Maryah Island and Al Reem Island, in addition to its current areas on Yas Island, Saadiyat Island and the routes to Zayed International Airport, started in 2021.
Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International at WeRide, said, “We are proud to be the first company to pilot fully autonomous cars in the Middle East, proving our position as leaders in global urban areas.”
The test drives mark a major step in bringing robotaxis to the streets, as WeRide has set summer 2025 for more service rollouts if approval is granted.
WeRide is growing fast around the globe and regards the UAE as a key market. In July 2023, the company was the very first in the UAE to obtain a national license, allowing it to test and operate autonomous vehicles throughout the country’s streets — a proof of the government’s commitment to new mobility solutions.
In December 2024, the company issued a statement announcing it had teamed up with Uber to bring robotaxi ride-hailing services to Abu Dhabi. By working together, the companies launched the biggest commercial robotaxi service outside the US and China, helping introduce autonomous rides into daily transport in the UAE.
The company’s safety-approved technology and growing operational regions are helping WeRide lead the way towards fully driverless smart transport solutions in the Gulf area. Self-driving city vehicles will soon be common — and Abu Dhabi is leading the effort.
