WeRide and Uber Technologies have started operating their robotaxis on Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with the Integrated Transport Centre. The expanded service is expected to double ride volumes, now covering 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.
Since launching in Abu Dhabi in December 2024, the WeRide and Uber Robotaxi fleet has tripled in size. Both companies have said they aim to continue growing their fleet to hundreds of Robotaxis in Abu Dhabi, with plans to extend services into Khalifa City, Masdar City and more areas of downtown Abu Dhabi later this year.
The robotaxi fleet features WeRide’s latest GXR model autonomous vehicle for scaled commercial deployment, which fits up to five people. Each vehicle is expected to average dozens of trips per day during a 12-hour shift, with rides typically exceeding 6km.
“Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands are high-demand areas and serve as key gateways to Abu Dhabi. This expansion gives us the opportunity to reach more passengers, showcase our advanced technology in complex urban settings, and further accelerate the deployment of autonomous vehicles across the city. We deeply appreciate the ongoing support from the Integrated Transport Centre and our strong partnership with Uber, which continues to drive our growth in the Middle East and beyond,” said Jennifer Li, CFO and head of international at WeRide.
“This expansion marks an important milestone in Abu Dhabi’s journey toward realising its vision for a smarter and safer mobility system. Building on the success of our previous smart mobility initiatives, we are working to extend the deployment of autonomous vehicles to high-density areas such as Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands, in order to provide a safer and more efficient travel experience, in line with Abu Dhabi’s smart transport strategy, which aims to provide sustainable and innovative mobility solutions,” said Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, acting director general of the Integrated Transport Centre.
“We are committed to embracing innovative and sustainable solutions to enhance our transport network and improve the quality of life for our residents. By working closely with our strategic partners, we are accelerating this progress and enhancing the transport experience for everyone.”
“We’re pleased to expand our autonomous vehicle service in Abu Dhabi to Al Reem and Al Maryah in partnership with WeRide and with the support of the Abu Dhabi Mobility. We’ve seen some great engagement from riders in Abu Dhabi since launch and are excited to make autonomous rides more accessible to even more people in the Emirate. Just as Uber helped millions experience electric vehicles for the first time, 2025 will be the year we bring AV technology into the mainstream,” added Mohamad Jardaneh, head of autonomous mobility, Middle East, at Uber.
In related news, Lucid Group, Nuro and Uber Technologies will work together on a next-generation premium global robotaxi program created exclusively for the Uber ride-hailing platform. Read the full story here