Chinese autonomous driving firm WeRide and ride-hailing giant Uber have launched fully driverless Robotaxi operations in Dubai, allowing passengers to book rides via the Uber app without a human operator on board.
The service initially covers the Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim districts, popular coastal tourist areas, under the oversight of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The move supports the emirate’s goal of having 25% of trips handled by autonomous vehicles by 2030.
The rollout follows a supervised trial that began in December 2025 and a driverless vehicle permit issued in February 2026. Local mobility operator Tawasul will manage WeRide’s fleet in Dubai, with plans to expand to commercial, industrial, and suburban areas including Dubai Silicon Oasis, Jabal Ali Industrial, Nad Al Sheba, and Al Hamriya Port.
“WeRide is committed to long-term operations in Dubai and will continue expanding our local fleet,” said Dr. Tony Han, WeRide founder and CEO. “This milestone reflects the combined strength of our technology, partners, and regulatory confidence.”
Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility, said the launch marked a key step toward a “hybrid world” of human-driven and autonomous vehicles operating side by side.
Uber disclosed in filings this week that it owns about 5.82% of WeRide’s Class A shares, reflecting confidence in the company’s technological leadership and global commercialization strategy.
WeRide became the first UAE company to receive a national license for all types of self-driving vehicles in 2023. The firm aims to deploy at least 1,200 Robotaxis across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh by 2026 and currently operates more than 200 in the Middle East.
WeRide is publicly traded and has autonomous driving permits in eight markets, including China, UAE, Singapore, France, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, and the United States.