Gasgoo Munich- Autonomous driving technology company WeRide and ride-hailing giant Uber have begun commercial Robotaxi operations in downtown Abu Dhabi, marking the first deployment of self-driving vehicles in the city center.
With the latest rollout, the partners now cover roughly 70% of Abu Dhabi's key urban districts. Since formally launching commercial services in December 2024, the jointly operated fleet has expanded fourfold, reflecting accelerating demand and regulatory support in the UAE capital.
Image source: WeRide
Backed by the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), the expanded service footprint now stretches across Khalifa City, Masdar City and Rabdan, while also connecting the Corniche waterfront with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The network links major landmarks and a cluster of prominent hotels along the Corniche, integrating tourist, residential and business districts into a unified autonomous mobility corridor.
Passengers traveling within the designated zones can request a WeRide GXR Robotaxi through the Uber app by selecting Uber Comfort or UberX, or by choosing the dedicated “Autonomous” option. Although the service is now commercially available to the public, vehicles currently operate with a safety operator onboard, with plans to transition gradually toward fully driverless operations. Fleet management is handled by UAE-based Tawasul Transport, which operates the Robotaxi vehicles on the Uber platform.
The downtown launch significantly broadens urban connectivity and supports the UAE's broader smart mobility ambitions. Prior to this expansion, WeRide and Uber had already deployed services across nearly half of Abu Dhabi's core areas, including Al Reem Island, Al Maryah Island, Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, as well as highway routes serving Zayed International Airport. WeRide's Middle East fleet now exceeds 200 Robotaxis, underscoring the region's importance in its global strategy.
The rapid scaling in Abu Dhabi signals broader ambitions. Over the coming years, the two companies aim to expand their Middle East fleet into the thousands. Under a cooperation roadmap agreed in February 2026, WeRide and Uber plan to deploy at least 1,200 Robotaxis in the region as early as 2027, with services spanning Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh.
The partnership's momentum builds on an earlier milestone. In November 2025, WeRide and Uber launched what was described as the Middle East's first Level 4 fully driverless commercial Robotaxi service on Yas Island. That achievement followed WeRide's receipt, in October 2025, of what it characterized as the first city-level permit outside the United States authorizing fully driverless Robotaxi operations, laying the regulatory groundwork for large-scale autonomous deployment.
