WeRide and Uber launched fully driverless, fare-charging robotaxi service in Dubai on March 31, marking one of the first commercial deployments of its kind anywhere in the world.
Riders in Dubai’s Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah districts can now book a WeRide robotaxi through the Uber app, with service endorsed by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority as part of the emirate’s goal of achieving 25% autonomous journeys by 2030.
The launch follows a supervised trial that began in December 2025. In February 2026, the RTA granted WeRide a driverless vehicle trial permit allowing fully driverless deployment across multiple areas including commercial and industrial districts — Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Investment Park, and Jabal Ali Industrial — as well as suburban areas including Nad Al Sheba and Ras Al Khor.
WeRide and Uber committed in February to deploy at least 1,200 robotaxis across the Middle East spanning Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh. The company currently has over 200 robotaxis in the region, and its Middle Eastern subsidiary has achieved operational profitability in the robotaxi business since 2025.
WeRide holds autonomous driving permits in eight markets — China, the UAE, Singapore, France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, and the United States — and is targeting over 2,600 robotaxis globally by end of 2026.
