Uber and WeRide’s Robotaxi Service in Abu Dhabi Is Officially Driverless
Uber and WeRide’s Robotaxi Service in Abu Dhabi Is Officially Driverless
A year after their initial commercial robotaxi launch in Abu Dhabi, Uber and WeRide have taken the next big step: their robotaxi service is now fully driverless, with no human safety operator required onboard. The service is publicly available and initially serving routes on Yas Island — home to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Formula 1 circuit. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
🚖 What Changed: From Safety-driver to Fully Autonomous
- On obtaining a city-level permit to operate fully driverless robotaxi services, WeRide’s vehicles can now operate commercially without a human safety driver. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- As of late November 2025, public rides through Uber’s platform may send riders in a fully autonomous WeRide robotaxi — either via regular UberX / Uber Comfort bookings or when users explicitly choose the “Autonomous” option in the app. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
🌍 Why Abu Dhabi — And Why This Is a Big Deal
- The permit granted to WeRide in Abu Dhabi marks the first city-level fully driverless robotaxi commercial license outside the United States . :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- For Uber and WeRide, this deployment is a milestone in global expansion beyond China and the U.S., signaling growing regulatory and market acceptance of Level-4 autonomous taxis. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
🚗 How the Service Works Now
- Rides are available via the standard Uber app: in covered zones (starting with Yas Island), customers requesting UberX or Uber Comfort may be matched with a robotaxi. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- Riders who prefer a higher chance of getting a robotaxi can select the “Autonomous” option in the app. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
- The local fleet is operated in partnership with a regional operator (fleet-manager), while WeRide provides the autonomous vehicle technology platform. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
🔭 What’s Next — Expansion Plans & Strategic Implications
- Uber and WeRide plan to extend the driverless service beyond Yas Island to additional areas of Abu Dhabi city centre. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- The move is part of a broader strategy: over the next few years, they aim to expand autonomous mobility services to many more cities globally (outside U.S. and China). :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
- For consumers and urban mobility, widespread deployment of driverless robotaxis could offer more accessible, potentially cheaper and always-available ride options — changing how people move in cities.
✅ Significance: A Landmark in Global Autonomous Mobility
The fully driverless launch in Abu Dhabi represents a landmark: it is the first publicly available, city-level robotaxi service without onboard safety driver outside the U.S. or China. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
This could mark the beginning of a broader shift — from pilot and test-phase autonomous driving to operational, large-scale deployment across global markets. For both the industry and riders, this signals that driverless mobility is no longer just a promise, but a present reality.
