Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide have launched robotaxi operations without a human safety operator in Dubai as part of a wider expansion into the Middle East.
Riders can now book the vehicles through the Uber app, with operations in commercial and industrial areas such as Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Investment Park Second, and Jabal Ali Industrial First, as well as suburban areas and the Al Hamriya Port maritime mall. The service is operated locally by Tawasul, a mobility and fleet company in the United Arab Emirates.
The companies first introduced robotaxis to Dubai in December as part of a pilot program, but did not charge for rides and still had a human safety operator on board. The government’s Roads and Transport Authority issued a driverless vehicle trial license to the companies last month.
The development marks an escalation of WeRide’s robotaxi operations in the region and Uber’s continued involvement in the company. Uber owns a 5.82% stake in WeRide, according to documents filed Monday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Last year, it invested $100 million in WeRide. Uber’s equity stake is valued at about $150 million based on WeRide’s closing stock price on Monday.
“The introduction of driverless vehicles in Dubai is a major milestone in making autonomous mobility a global reality,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility and delivery. “This launch underscores our deep commitment to the UAE and our vision for a hybrid world – where drivers and AVs work side-by-side to create a more resilient network. Especially during challenging times in the region, we are proud to be a partner to this city, ensuring Uber is always there to help people move seamlessly and confidently.”
Uber increased its investment in WeRide in May 2025 as part of a robotaxi commercial partnership to offer service in 15 more cities over the next five years. The companies have split in the past that the expansion will include European cities.
As part of the partnership, WeRide’s robotaxi services are available through the Uber app. The relationship is similar to Uber’s deal with Waymo, in which the ride-hailing company handles network routing and fleet operations, while the autonomous vehicle company remains responsible for AV technology.
Correction March 31 at 12:15 p.m. PT: An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported that Uber had increased its stake in WeRide. An earlier version of this article also misstated the value of Uber’s equity stake in WeRide. It’s about $150 million as of Monday.
