Uber and WeRide Expand Autonomous Taxi Service in Abu Dhabi Islands

Uber and WeRide have expanded their autonomous taxi service to Abu Dhabi's Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands, covering nearly half of the city's urban zones. The expansion is expected to drive a twofold increase in ride volumes, boosting the utilization of their robotaxi service. The companies plan to scale their fleet and provide services to additional areas later in 2025.

Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) and WeRide Inc. (NASDAQ:WRD) have announced a strategic expansion of their autonomous taxi service to Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands in Abu Dhabi, in partnership with the Integrated Transport Centre. This move covers nearly half of the city's primary urban zones, including Al Reem, Al Maryah, Yas, and Saadiyat Islands, as well as major highway routes to Zayed International Airport [1].

The expansion is expected to drive a twofold increase in ride volumes, substantially boosting the utilization of their robotaxi service. Since its launch in Abu Dhabi in December 2024, the robotaxi fleet has undergone a threefold expansion. The companies intend to further scale their fleet to add hundreds of autonomous vehicles and plan to provide their services to Khalifa City, Masdar City, and additional central urban areas later in 2025 [1].

Passengers in the new zones can access WeRide robotaxis via the Uber and TXAI mobile apps. The companies maintain the largest robotaxi service in the Middle East. While we acknowledge the potential of UBER as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk [1].

The partnership between Uber and WeRide is part of a broader strategy to expand their autonomous vehicle services in the region. This move comes as WeRide has also secured a strategic equity stake from Grab (NASDAQ:GRAB) to speed up the deployment and commercialization of Level 4 Robotaxis and shuttles across Southeast Asia [2]. The deal, expected to close by mid-2026, supports WeRide’s plan to expand its autonomous vehicle fleet and advance AI-driven mobility in the region.

The expansion in Abu Dhabi is a significant milestone for both companies, positioning them at the forefront of autonomous mobility solutions in the Middle East. As they continue to scale their operations, investors and financial professionals should keep an eye on these developments for potential investment opportunities.

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/uber-uber-weride-broaden-robotaxi-071814999.html
[2] https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/weride-lands-grab-investment-speed-102549498.html