Following a fortnight of private testing, autonomous robotaxi services debuted in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. The capital of the UAE is the initial city beyond the US to introduce completely autonomous taxis managed by Uber Technologies and WeRide.

Autonomous vehicles reaching Level 4 or greater automation offer hands-free driving in designated areas. This indicates that autonomous vehicles can manage all driving responsibilities and react to circumstances in a defined geographic zone, like a particular city or path, without the need for human input.

A human operator is not necessary, but the vehicle must implement a safety procedure to safely stop, and there must be an option for manual control of the vehicle. Public commercial activities began today (November 26) without a vehicle expert in the AV, starting on Yas Island.

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“Travelers can now connect with a WeRide Robotaxi via Uber Comfort or UberX and can also reserve a WeRide Robotaxi through the new ‘Autonomous’ section, Uber’s inaugural dedicated autonomous ride choice worldwide,” the company mentioned.

Last month, WeRide's robotaxi obtained a federal permit to carry out entirely driverless commercial operations.

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Last December, WeRide and Uber initiated their robotaxi ride-hailing collaboration in Abu Dhabi — the biggest commercial robotaxi operation beyond the US and China. In July 2025, the collaboration grew to encompass nearly half of Abu Dhabi's main regions, such as Al Reem and Al Maryah.

By the conclusion of 2025, WeRide and Uber intend to expand their services to include more regions within the heart of Abu Dhabi city. WeRide presently operates more than 100 Robotaxis in the Middle East.

 

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WeRide has a four-year head start in deploying autonomous vehicles in Abu Dhabi, having been operating robotaxis there since 2021. In 2023, it emerged as the initial company in the UAE to obtain a national license encompassing all categories of self-driving vehicles, permitting autonomous testing and operation on public roads nationwide, contingent upon emirate-level approvals.