Uber has begun offering fully driverless rides in Abu Dhabi through a partnership with Chinese autonomous-driving firm WeRide, marking the company’s first deployment of robotaxis outside the United States and strengthening the UAE capital’s role as a regional hub for autonomous mobility.

The launch follows an agreement signed last year between Uber and WeRide and builds on the emirate’s efforts to integrate self-driving technology into its public transport system.

The service is initially operating on Yas Island, where users booking UberX or Uber Comfort may be assigned a WeRide robotaxi. Uber has also introduced a dedicated “Autonomous” category in its app — the first global product line designed specifically for driverless rides.

WeRide has been active in Abu Dhabi since 2021 and received a national licence in 2023 to test and operate autonomous vehicles across the UAE, subject to emirate-level approval. In recent months, the company has expanded its commercial operations in collaboration with Uber and local fleet operator Tawasul, extending coverage across the city’s major districts.

Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre has endorsed the rollout as part of its smart mobility strategy, which seeks to reduce dependence on human-driven vehicles and expand the use of advanced transport technologies.

Uber and WeRide plan to widen autonomous coverage beyond central Abu Dhabi by the end of the year. Longer-term projections envisage several thousand robotaxis operating across the region.