WeRide to Launch Robotaxi Services in Dubai with Uber and RTA
AinvestMonday, Jun 16, 2025 2:40 am ET

WeRide, a Chinese autonomous driving technology company, has signed a cooperation agreement with Uber and Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority to deploy commercial robotaxi services in Dubai. The first batch of robotaxis will undergo commercial operations with safety officers and pure autonomous testing by the end of this year, with fully autonomous commercial operations set to start in Q1 2026. WeRide is accelerating its expansion in international markets, with the Middle East region being a strategic focus.
WeRide, a leading Chinese autonomous driving technology company, has entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Uber and Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to deploy commercial robotaxi services in Dubai. The first batch of robotaxis will commence commercial operations with safety officers on board by the end of 2025, with plans to transition to fully autonomous operations by the first quarter of 2026 [3].This partnership aligns with Dubai's Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to convert 25% of all mobility journeys in the emirate into autonomous trips by 2030. WeRide's autonomous vehicles will initially operate with safety drivers, transitioning to fully driverless commercial operations following the successful completion of 2025’s pilot phase [3].
WeRide's expansion into the Middle East region is part of its broader international strategy. The company has been rapidly expanding through partnerships with global ride-hailing platforms like Uber and local regulatory bodies. This move comes as Dubai continues to lead the region in autonomous vehicle trials, with the emirate previously testing GM's Cruise autonomous taxi platform in 2023 [3].
The UAE has been at the forefront of autonomous vehicle development, with Abu Dhabi leading early trials through G42 Group's taxi and bus services on Saadiyat Island and Yas Island. Dubai has also established supportive legislation, adding autonomous vehicles to federal vehicle classifications in 2023 [3].
The partnership between WeRide, Uber, and Dubai RTA builds on WeRide's successful commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles on Uber's platform in Abu Dhabi, which began in December 2024. WeRide has been part of driverless taxi trials in Abu Dhabi since 2021 and currently operates in over 30 cities across 10 countries, holding driverless permits in China, the UAE, Singapore, France, and the United States [3].
While the UAE has been proactive in its autonomous vehicle development, commercial rollout remains complex, requiring extensive regulatory approvals and testing. The high costs of scaling autonomous vehicle services have led some companies to pause their operations, such as Motional pausing its robotaxi partnership with Uber and Lyft in 2022 [4].
The Middle East region presents a strategic opportunity for WeRide and other autonomous vehicle companies due to its large population and growing interest in innovative transportation solutions. As Dubai and other cities in the region continue to invest in autonomous vehicle infrastructure, the market for robotaxis is expected to grow significantly in the coming years [3].
References:
[1] https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2925341/nvidia-nvda-ceo-foresees-major-growth-in-autonomous-vehicles-and-robotics
[2] https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2923520/nvidia-nvda-ceo-foresees-golden-era-for-autonomous-vehicles-and-robots
[3] https://middleeastainews.com/p/weride-robotaxi-pilot-in-2025
[4] https://restofworld.org/2025/robotaxi-waymo-apollo-go/
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