Uber Expands Driverless Robotaxi Services in Dubai and Boosts Investment in WeRide

Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide have officially launched fully driverless robotaxi services in Dubai, marking a significant milestone in the region’s autonomous mobility initiatives. Previously, the companies had a pilot program where rides were free and a human safety operator was on board. Now, riders can book trips in commercial, industrial, suburban, and maritime districts, including Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Investment Park Second, Jabal Ali Industrial First, and Al Hamriya Port, through Uber’s app. Local operations are managed by Tawasul, a UAE-based mobility and fleet operator. This expansion follows the issuance of a driverless vehicle trial permit by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority. Concurrently, Uber has increased its stake in WeRide to 5.82%, worth approximately $400 million. Uber had already invested $100 million in WeRide in May 2025 to support a commercial robotaxi partnership aimed at expanding services to 15 additional cities over the next five years, including European markets. The partnership mirrors Uber’s arrangement with Waymo, with Uber handling fleet management and network routing, while WeRide provides the autonomous vehicle technology. According to Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility, this launch reflects Uber’s commitment to blending human-driven and autonomous vehicles to create a resilient and seamless transportation network in the UAE.