Dubai launches Robotaxi service: Uber, WeRide debut autonomous rides in RTA-led rollout

Image credit: Dubai Media Office/Website

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a pilot public Robotaxi service available starting today on the Uber app, marking a major milestone in the emirate’s push toward autonomous mobility.

The initiative, delivered in collaboration with autonomous driving technology provider WeRide and Uber Technologies, aligns with Dubai’s wider Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which envisions a substantial shift toward autonomous mobility by 2030.

According to Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency, the new WeRide Robotaxi vehicles booked through the Uber app will initially be available in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, two of Dubai’s most prominent neighborhoods situated along the city’s public beaches, a Dubai Media Office report said.

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“Members of the public across all segments of the community can book a WeRide Robotaxi through the Uber app by selecting the ‘Autonomous’ service option,” Bahrozyan said.

He noted that the launch builds on the joint pilot program between RTA and WeRide, which has undergone extensive testing since the partnership was announced in April 2025. This progression ensures, he said, a gradual but reliable transition toward fully autonomous services. For now, the Robotaxis operate with a specialist safety driver on board, with full driverless deployment targeted for early 2026.

WeRide sees Dubai as a global testbed

Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International at WeRide, highlighted the strategic importance of Dubai as a proving ground for the company’s global ambitions.

“Our progress in Dubai is enabled by our autonomous driving technology that has been tested and validated worldwide,” Li said. “We are expanding rapidly across the Middle East and globally, driven by our vision to deploy tens of thousands of Robotaxis by 2030. We are pleased to partner with forward-thinking regulators like RTA, who share a similarly bold commitment to advancing autonomous mobility, and with Uber, whose global platform will help accelerate the adoption of driverless transportation.”

WeRide currently operates about 150 autonomous vehicles in the Middle East, including more than 100 Robotaxis, and plans to scale aggressively over the coming years.

Uber backs UAE’s push toward autonomous journeys

Sarfraz Maredia, global head of Autonomous at Uber, said the partnership underscores the company’s strategy to blend human drivers with autonomous vehicles across its global network.

“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,” he said. “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 per cent autonomous journeys by 2030.”

Dubai’s rapid population growth, now exceeding 4 million, continues to intensify demand for mobility solutions. In 2024 alone, the emirate recorded more than 153 million trips across public transport, taxis, and shared mobility services, including app-based ride-hailing. Shared mobility demand grew 28 per cent year-on-year, signaling rising reliance on flexible, tech-enabled transport options.

The launch of the pilot Robotaxi service reinforces Dubai’s leadership in smart mobility and sets the stage for WeRide and Uber to expand their autonomous vehicle footprint significantly in the coming years.