Skip to content Skip to Search
Skip navigation

Uber launches driverless operations in Abu Dhabi

By Neil Halligan
Uber and WeRide launch autonomous mobility service in Abu Dhabi Supplied/Business Wire
Uber Technologies and WeRide robotaxi: Abu Dhabi now boasts the largest commercial robotaxi service outside the US and China
  • Partnering with WeRide
  • Robotaxi service
  • Fully driverless by 2025

Ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies and Chinese autonomous vehicle tech company WeRide have launched a commercial driverless taxi service in Abu Dhabi.

The service, available on the Uber platform, will be available for trips on Saadiyat Island, Yas Island and routes to and from Zayed International Airport, with plans to expand the operating territory in the future.

For the launch phase each autonomous vehicle will have a safety operator in the driver’s seat to ensure safety for riders and pedestrians. The fully driverless service is “planned for later in 2025”, the companies said in a statement.

The launch is the largest commercial robotaxi service outside the US and China and the first time autonomous vehicles are available on the Uber platform outside of the US.

In July last year WeRide received preliminary approval for operating autonomous vehicles in the UAE.

Abu Dhabi has been operating a limited autonomous taxi service on Yas Island. Neighbouring Dubai has been trialling autonomous taxis, with plans to convert 25 percent of total transportation to autonomous by 2030. 

Latest articles

City, Architecture, Building

Turkey to get $1bn from World Bank for quake recovery

Turkey will receive $1 billion (TL35.43 billion) from the World Bank this year to support the recovery of its earthquake-hit zone, a news report said. The total assistance from the World Bank to Ankara will reach $4 billion since the devastating 2023 earthquakes. The World Bank and the International Finance Corporation work jointly on projects […]

Halliburton will help Iraq increase production at the Nahr Bin Omar oilfield from the current 50,000 bpd to 300,000 bpd

Iraq, Halliburton near deal to up oilfield output by 500%

Iraq is close to finalising a development deal with Halliburton, a US oil services provider, to expand the capacity of its Nahr Bin Omar oilfield by 500 percent, a news report said. The oil ministry and Halliburton are expected to sign a confidentiality agreement in the coming days, Bassem Abdul Karim, director general of state-owned […]

Dubai's Emaar reported a 30% jump in annual revenues for the first three quarters of 2024 to AED23.8bn

Dubai’s Emaar confirms talks to sell stake in Indian unit

Emaar Properties, Dubai’s largest developer, has confirmed talks with companies in India, including Adani Group, for a possible stake sale in its Indian subsidiary. The valuation and other terms of a potential transaction are not finalised, the developer said in a Dubai bourse filing on Thursday. The clarification followed a news article by Mint, an […]

Epipoli owns the largest customer relationship management and loyalty programme in Italy, with over six million customers

Bahrain’s Investcorp agrees to buy Italy’s Epipoli

Bahrain’s Investcorp has finalised a deal to acquire Epipoli, an Italian alternative payments company. The asset will be purchased from London-headquartered private equity Bregal Milestone and Epipoli founder and CEO Gaetano Giannetto. Giannetto will continue to hold a significant minority stake and lead the company. No terms of the transaction were disclosed. Epipoli owns the […]