- Robotaxi public operations have commenced with routes between Corniche Road and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, as well as in Khalifa City, Masdar City, and Rabdan
- Expanded service endorsed by Integrated Transport Centre (ITC)
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD, HKEX: 0800), a global leader in autonomous driving technology, and Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER), have launched the first commercial Robotaxi service in downtown Abu Dhabi – marking the Emirate’s first autonomous vehicle (AV) deployment in its city center. With this latest downtown expansion, the WeRide-Uber service now reaches approximately 70% of Abu Dhabi’s core areas, with the fleet quadrupling in size since starting operations in December 2024.
The newly expanded service operates across Khalifa City, Masdar City, Rabdan, and routes between Corniche Road and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, in partnership with the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC). Within the coverage area are major landmarks such as Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and popular hotels along Corniche Road, including Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences; InterContinental Abu Dhabi by IHG; Edition Hotel, Abu Dhabi; Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi; and Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche.
WeRide’s Robotaxi GXR at Grand Mosque, downtown Abu Dhabi
Starting today, riders using the Uber platform and travelling to or from the new areas may be matched with a WeRide Robotaxi GXR through UberX or Uber Comfort, and can also choose to book directly via the dedicated “Autonomous” option on the app. Public commercial operations are now underway with a vehicle specialist on-board, as part of a phased approach towards fully driverless operations. Tawasul Transport, a leading UAE national transport company, is the main fleet operator for WeRide vehicles on the Uber platform, providing fleet management services.
This expansion enhances urban connectivity, improves transport accessibility, and supports the UAE’s broader smart mobility vision. Previously, the service covered about half of Abu Dhabi’s core areas, including Al Reem, Al Maryah, Yas, and Saadiyat, as well as highway routes to and from Zayed International Airport. WeRide now has over 200 Robotaxis in the Middle East.
WeRide’s Robotaxi GXR on Corniche Road, downtown Abu Dhabi
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was named the top attraction in the Middle East in 2025, and a popular tourist destination on the Uber app. The expanded WeRide-Uber Robotaxi service supports Abu Dhabi’s growth as a tourism hub, with hotels across the Emirate receiving 4.8 million guests as of 2024 – a 27% year-on-year increase in international visitors. By connecting this high-demand hotel and tourism corridor with other parts of Abu Dhabi, the service highlights ITC’s confidence in the partners’ ability to operate safely in complex urban environments.
This development highlights WeRide and Uber’s rapid progress in the UAE, as they work to scale their Middle East operations to thousands of Robotaxis over the coming years. In February 2026, both companies committed to deploy at least 1,200 Robotaxis across the Middle East as soon as 2027, spanning Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh.
In November 2025, WeRide and Uber launched the Middle East’s first Level 4 fully driverless Robotaxi commercial operations in Abu Dhabi, which started with Yas Island. The launch was enabled by WeRide’s Robotaxi securing the world’s first city-level fully driverless Robotaxi permit outside the US in October 2025.
WeRide Robotaxi on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
WeRide maintains a 4-year first mover advantage in autonomous vehicle deployment in Abu Dhabi, having operated Robotaxis in Abu Dhabi since 2021. In 2023, it became the first company in the UAE to receive a national license covering all types of self-driving vehicles, authorizing autonomous testing and operation on public roads across the country, subject to emirate-level approvals. In December 2024, WeRide and Uber launched their Robotaxi ride-hailing partnership in Abu Dhabi – the largest commercial Robotaxi service outside the US and China.
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