Uber and WeRide launch robotaxi service in Dubai
The United Arab Emirates has become only the second country where Uber offers robotaxi bookings via its app. As in the USA, where Uber collaborates with Waymo in Austin, Atlanta and Phoenix, and more recently with AVRide in Las Vegas, Uber has adopted a partnership model in the Emirates: it does not operate the robotaxis itself but acts solely as an intermediary.
In Dubai, a metropolis of four million people where Uber announced the launch on 12 December, as well as in Abu Dhabi, where services began on 26 November, WeRide is the partner of choice. The company, based in the Chinese city of Guangzhou, states that it is already active or has at least tested robotaxi services in 30 cities across eleven countries.
In both cities, WeRide provides the robotaxis, specifically the GXR model. The van was unveiled in October 2024, based on the SuperVAN platform of Geely’s commercial vehicle brand, Farizon. The GXR is equipped with WeRide’s Sensor Suite 5.6, which includes over 20 sensors, such as LiDAR sensors, high-resolution high-dynamic-range cameras, and a high-precision RTK inertial navigation system. However, the operator of these robotaxis in the Emirates is not WeRide itself but the local taxi and limousine provider, Tawasul Transport.
In Dubai, WeRide robotaxis are now available via the Uber app in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, two of the city’s most popular tourist areas near public beaches. The vehicles are open to all Uber customers. To book a robotaxi, passengers must select the ‘Autonomous’ option in the Uber app. However, this is not yet a fully rolled-out service, as safety drivers remain on board. This public test phase is intended to pave the way for a fully driverless commercial service starting in early 2026.
Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous at Uber, 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.”
In May, WeRide and Uber announced plans to expand their collaboration, which began in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to 15 additional cities worldwide over the next five years, including locations in Europe. In July, both partners also received approval to offer robotaxi services in Saudi Arabia, a neighbouring country of the UAE. However, the service has not yet been launched there. In September, Uber also announced plans to test a robotaxi service in Munich starting in 2026—though in this case, in partnership with WeRide’s Chinese competitor, Momenta.
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