Uber and WeRide have teamed up with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to advance autonomous vehicle (AV) mobility in the city.
The collaboration will integrate AVs into Uber’s platform, with Chinese autonomous driving technology company WeRide as the first technology partner.
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Uber Autonomous Mobility and Delivery Operations Global Head Noah Zych said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority to bring autonomous vehicles onto the Uber platform, starting with our technology partner WeRide.
“At Uber, we’re building the future of transportation, working with the world’s leading autonomous vehicle developers to help commercialize and deploy this technology at scale around the world.
“With WeRide as our first AV technology partner in the UAE, we’re providing riders with a reliable and forward-thinking mobility solution that aligns with the country’s ambitions for smart cities and future transport.”
Under the agreement, Uber and RTA will conduct pilot programmes to match riders with AVs using the former’s technology while ensuring a “seamless” user experience.
The partnership will also focus on data analysis, safety measures, and regulatory frameworks to facilitate the transition to autonomous mobility in Dubai.
This initiative expands Uber’s global efforts in AV technology, adding Dubai to its list of markets working with industry leaders to implement self-driving solutions.
WeRide chief financial officer and head of international business Jennifer Li said: “Dubai marks a natural step forward in our commitment to advancing mobility in the Middle East as well as our continued global expansion.
“We believe our advanced autonomous driving technology and operational experience combined with Uber’s powerful global mobility platform will help us serve millions of consumers in cities around the world.”
In July 2023, WeRide secured the national licence for self-driving vehicles on public roads in UAE. Its AVs were commercially launched in Abu Dhabi through Uber in December 2024.
Lats month, WeRide obtained a Level-4 driverless public road testing and operating permit in France.
This was achieved in collaboration with French autonomous mobility network operator beti, making WeRide the only technology firm with driverless permits in China, the UAE, Singapore, France, and the US.
