WeRide has begun deploying robotaxis and other core autonomous driving products in Riyadh and AlUla, setting the stage for commercial rollout and wider operations across Saudi Arabia.
The company recently began ground preparation work ahead of its upcoming robotaxi trial operations, with support from the Transport General Authority. The service is set to launch on Uber in the coming months, with full commercial services expected in late 2025. This deployment supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions to build smart, sustainable cities by enhancing road safety, improving traffic management and introducing innovative, technology-driven mobility solutions.
WeRide has also been testing and deploying its robobus in several key areas across Saudi Arabia, including King Fahad Medical City, Aramco residential communities, AlUla and the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh. This Level 4 autonomous vehicle is designed to address last-mile transportation gaps, and complements transit networks such as the Riyadh Metro, enhancing the overall travel experience. Well suited to the region’s hot climate, it serves a wide range of use cases, from parks to large-scale hotels and tourist attractions.
Saudi Arabia – the Middle East’s largest economy, with a GDP of US$1.09tn in 2024 – has been accelerating efforts under Vision 2030 to diversify into high-growth sectors. With the kingdom’s tourism sector alone projected to reach US$110.1bn by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 8.4% from 2024, WeRide’s robotaxis and robobuses support Saudi Arabia’s push to develop a smart, sustainable transportation infrastructure for residents and the rising influx of visitors.
In Riyadh, WeRide’s Robosweeper S1 has been deployed at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Second Health Cluster, marking the first monetized autonomous sanitation project in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. As the largest medical complex in the Middle East, the facility spans 500,000m2 and includes four hospitals and 107 primary care centers. It constantly experiences heavy daily foot and vehicle traffic across medical, residential, commercial and logistics zones, and its complicated layout requires advanced sanitation solutions, which can be provided by the Level 4 Robosweeper.
WeRide’s expansion into Saudi Arabia builds on the company’s growing presence across the Middle East. Earlier this month, it launched fully driverless robotaxi testing in Abu Dhabi – the first deployment of its kind in the region. It will also be extending its robotaxi service coverage to two high-demand islands in Abu Dhabi: Al Maryah and Al Reem.
Also in May, WeRide and Uber announced an expansion of their strategic partnership, bringing robotaxis to 15 additional cities globally over the next five years, including in Europe, while cities in the Middle East are being explored. This follows a successful robotaxi launch in Abu Dhabi, which saw the largest public commercial robotaxi fleet deployed outside the US and China in December 2024. This April, the partnership was expanded to Dubai, where WeRide’s robotaxis will soon be available on Uber’s platform.