Ride hailing platforms WeRide and Uber, in partnership with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), have begun offering autonomous robotaxi rides in the emirate.
Trips are now available via the Uber app, with users able to choose the service through the app’s “Autonomous” option.
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The initial coverage includes parts of Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, which feature tourist areas near public beaches.
At this stage, the vehicles include an onboard specialist. The companies expect to move to a fully driverless commercial service in early 2026.
The launch comes after a trial phase that began once WeRide and Uber revealed their partnership in April 2025.
Under the arrangement, Tawasul will act as the main fleet operator for WeRide vehicles on the Uber platform.
The launch aligns with Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims for 25% of journeys in the city to be autonomous by 2030.
Uber Autonomous global head Sarfraz Maredia said: “As the world’s largest hybrid network of human drivers and AVs, Uber is building the future of transportation, and we are thrilled by the pace of autonomous adoption in the UAE and the Middle East.
“This launch in Dubai is a testament to our ongoing commitment to the UAE’s vision for the future of mobility, and contributes directly to Dubai’s goal of achieving 25% autonomous journeys by 2030.”
Dubai recorded a 28% increase in shared mobility trips in 2024 compared with the previous year, with total journeys across public transport, ride-hailing and taxis reaching 153 million.
WeRide operates nearly 150 autonomous vehicles across the Middle East, with robotaxis accounting for over 100 of them.
WeRide International head and chief financial officer Jennifer Li said: “Our progress in Dubai is enabled by our autonomous driving technology that has been tested and validated worldwide. We are expanding rapidly across the Middle East and globally, driven by our vision to deploy tens of thousands of Robotaxis by 2030.
“We are pleased to partner with forward-thinking regulators like RTA, who share a similarly bold commitment to advancing autonomous mobility, and with Uber, whose global platform will help accelerate the adoption of driverless transportation.”
