Middle East's Robotaxi Race Just Got Real: WeRide and Uber Go Fully Driverless in Abu Dhabi

WeRide just pulled off something massive—Level 4 fully autonomous robotaxis are now live in Abu Dhabi without a single human behind the wheel. This isn’t a test drive or a limited pilot. Passengers booking through Uber can grab a completely driverless ride on Yas Island right now.

Here’s why this matters:

This is the first fully driverless commercial service outside the U.S., and WeRide snagged something even more impressive: the world’s first city-level driverless permit outside America. The local regulatory flex was real—Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre gave WeRide and fleet partner Tawasul the green light for full commercial ops, no safety driver required.

The numbers tell the story. WeRide’s running 100+ robotaxis across the Middle East already. The partnership between WeRide and Uber is now the largest commercial autonomous fleet outside the U.S. and China. Passengers can book via UberX, Uber Comfort, or a brand new “Autonomous” category that basically screams “you’re in a driverless future.”

The economics angle:

WeRide says unit economics will hit breakeven as vehicle utilization ramps up—translation: this model is actually designed to be profitable, not just a vanity play. They’re planning to expand across Abu Dhabi’s core areas by end of 2025.

The timing is significant too. WeRide locked federal permits in October 2025, so regulatory walls are finally cracking. While Waymo and others have been grinding on this for years, seeing a Chinese company execute at this speed in a new market is a reminder that the autonomous race isn’t just a U.S. story anymore.