Uber’s ambitions in autonomous mobility reached a new milestone this week as the company confirmed that customers in Abu Dhabi can now be matched with fully driverless robotaxis. The rollout, developed in partnership with Chinese autonomous vehicle operator WeRide, marks the first time Uber has offered a driverless service in the United Arab Emirates without a human safety driver behind the wheel.

The deployment begins within the twelve square miles of Yas Island, one of Abu Dhabi’s busiest leisure districts. Passengers requesting UberX or Uber Comfort may be assigned a WeRide GXR vehicle if their destination falls within the designated driverless zone. Riders who want a higher chance of getting one can select the “Autonomous” option inside the Uber app.

Uber and WeRide first introduced their joint pilot in December 2024 using vehicles monitored by safety drivers, with both companies stating that a fully autonomous phase would follow. That shift has now begun. The WeRide GXR, built on Geely’s Farizon SuperVan platform, carries over twenty sensors and cameras, seats up to five passengers, and has already been deployed as a robotaxi in Beijing.

Operational responsibilities mirror similar partnerships in the United States. Uber manages fleet logistics in collaboration with Tawasul Transport, handling maintenance, cleaning, charging, inspections, and depot operations, while WeRide oversees technical functions such as testing and sensor calibration. The approach positions Uber as a central platform for autonomous mobility regardless of manufacturer, a strategy the company has pushed aggressively in recent years.

The UAE expansion is only the first step. Uber and WeRide say the partnership is expected to reach fifteen additional cities over the next five years, including locations in Europe, as regulators and urban planners increasingly adapt infrastructure for driverless transport.

The move places Abu Dhabi among the most advanced global markets for autonomous vehicles, joining cities such as Phoenix, Beijing, and Shanghai where commercial driverless fleets already operate. For the UAE, it reflects a broader national push to integrate robotics, AI, and automation across transport and logistics.