Uber and WeRide launch driverless robotaxis in Dubai

Uber and autonomous vehicle company WeRide have officially launched robotaxi operations without a human safety operator in Dubai. The launch marks a significant expansion of the companies’ autonomous vehicle partnership in the Middle East. Passengers in the city can now book these driverless rides directly through the Uber app. Locally, the service is operated by Tawasul, a UAE mobility and fleet operator. The commercial rollout follows the issuance of a driverless vehicle trial permit by the Roads and Transport Authority, which serves as the Dubai government transport regulator.

This deployment represents a major shift from the initial robotaxi pilot program, which the companies introduced in December. During that pilot phase, rides were free of charge and required a human safety operator to remain on board. The new phase removes the safety driver entirely, allowing the vehicles to operate autonomously. The driverless service is available in several commercial, industrial, and suburban areas of Dubai, including Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Investment Park Second, Jabal Ali Industrial First, and the maritime trading hub Al Hamriya Port.

The launch also highlights Uber’s growing financial relationship with WeRide. According to documents filed on Monday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Uber’s financial involvement includes:

• A 5.82% equity stake in WeRide, which is valued at around $150 million based on WeRide’s closing stock price on Monday.
• An investment of $100 million into WeRide last year.

Uber previously increased its investment into WeRide in May 2025 as part of a commercial partnership to bring robotaxi services to 15 additional cities over the next five years. The companies have previously shared that this expansion will include cities in Europe.

Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility and delivery, emphasized the significance of the Dubai launch for the company’s broader strategy. “Bringing fully driverless vehicles to Dubai is an important milestone in making autonomous mobility a global reality,” Maredia said. He added that the launch underscores Uber’s commitment to the UAE and its vision for a hybrid network where human drivers and autonomous vehicles operate side-by-side. Maredia also noted that the partnership aims to build a more resilient network, particularly during challenging times in the region, ensuring that the platform remains available to help people move seamlessly.

Why it matters

The launch represents a major escalation in the Uber-WeRide partnership, moving from a pilot program to fully driverless commercial operations under a local regulatory permit. It highlights how the companies are expanding their autonomous vehicle network across the Middle East and into Europe.