WeRide and Uber Technologies Inc. have launched the first commercial robotaxi service in downtown Abu Dhabi – marking the Emirate’s first autonomous vehicle (AV) deployment in its city center, according to both companies. With this latest downtown expansion, the WeRide-Uber service now reaches approximately 70% of Abu Dhabi’s core areas, with the fleet quadrupling in size since starting operations in December 2024.
The newly expanded service operates across Khalifa City, Masdar City, Rabdan, and routes between Corniche Road and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, in partnership with the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC). Within the coverage area are major landmarks such as Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and popular hotels along Corniche Road, including Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences; InterContinental Abu Dhabi by IHG; Edition Hotel, Abu Dhabi; Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi; and Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche.
Riders using the Uber platform and traveling to or from the new areas may be matched with a WeRide robotaxi GXR through UberX or Uber Comfort, and can also choose to book directly via the dedicated ‘Autonomous’ option on the app. Public commercial operations are now underway with a vehicle specialist on board, as part of a phased approach towards fully driverless operations. Tawasul Transport, a leading UAE national transportation company, is the main fleet operator for WeRide vehicles on the Uber platform, providing fleet management services.
Previously, the service covered about half of Abu Dhabi’s core areas, including Al Reem, Al Maryah, Yas, and Saadiyat, as well as highway routes to and from Zayed International Airport. WeRide now has over 200 robotaxis in the Middle East.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was named the top attraction in the Middle East in 2025, and a popular tourist destination on the Uber app. The expanded WeRide-Uber robotaxi service will help support Abu Dhabi’s growth as a tourism hub, with hotels across the Emirate receiving 4.8 million guests as of 2024 – a 27% year-on-year increase in international visitors. By connecting this high-demand hotel and tourism corridor with other parts of Abu Dhabi, the service highlights ITC’s confidence in the partners’ ability to operate safely in complex urban environments.
This development also highlights WeRide and Uber’s rapid progress in the UAE, as they work to scale their Middle East operations to thousands of robotaxis over the coming years. In February 2026, both companies committed to deploy at least 1,200 robotaxis across the Middle East as soon as 2027, spanning Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh.
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