Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On September 29, Chinese autonomous driving startup WeRide announced that its Robotaxi GXR fleet is now available through Uber app’s newly launched “Autonomous” ride-hailing category in Abu Dhabi. This marks the first time Uber has introduced a dedicated autonomous driving option anywhere in the world, with WeRide as the only Robotaxi operator currently integrated into the platform.
The company said it also remains the sole autonomous driving player running commercial Robotaxi services with Uber outside of the U.S. and China.
Uber users in Abu Dhabi can now book a WeRide Robotaxi directly under the “Autonomous” category. Each vehicle can seat up to five passengers, with fares aligned to Uber’s Comfort service tier.
WeRide’s Robotaxi network in Abu Dhabi already spans Yas, Saadiyat, Al Reem, and Al Maryah islands, as well as routes to and from Zayed International Airport. Since the launch of Uber’s new category, weekly order volumes have risen by around 20%, underscoring growing public adoption and accelerating the broader commercialization of Robotaxis in the Middle East.
WeRide began offering Robotaxi rides in Abu Dhabi in partnership with local operators back in 2021. The company formalized a strategic agreement with Uber in September 2024, with its Robotaxi fleet going live on the platform that December. Until now, Uber used a hybrid dispatch system in the city, where users booking standard rides could occasionally be matched with a WeRide Robotaxi. The new dedicated category formalizes and expands that model.
In May 2025, WeRide began pilot operations of fully driverless Robotaxis in Abu Dhabi. Two months later, the company and Uber expanded service coverage across the city, which led to a doubling of ride orders. Together, they now operate the largest Robotaxi fleet in the Middle East.
Beyond Abu Dhabi, WeRide is accelerating its Middle Eastern expansion. In April 2025, it announced a three-way partnership with Uber and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), later securing a pilot permit from the RTA earlier this month. Full driverless operations in Dubai are expected to begin in 2026. The company also secured Saudi Arabia’s first autonomous driving license in July, paving the way for pilot services in Riyadh, including at King Khalid International Airport.
Looking ahead, WeRide plans to grow its Middle East fleet to between 500 and 1,000 vehicles in the near term, with ambitions to deploy tens of thousands of Robotaxis across the region by 2030. The company said the expansion will underpin the development of a sustainable autonomous mobility ecosystem in the region.
Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market exchanges, and relying on SMM’s internal database model, for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.
(Source)