Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide has introduced its fully driverless commercial robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant milestone as the first city in the Middle East to adopt this advanced transportation solution. The service, which operates without an on-board safety supervisor, utilizes WeRide’s van-type Robotaxi GXR, equipped with Level 4 autonomy. Passengers can hail the robotaxi via the Uber app, with routes primarily serving Yas Island, a popular tourist destination. The launch was supported by Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre, which granted the world’s first city-level permit for fully driverless robotaxi operations. WeRide currently operates nearly 150 robotaxis in the Middle East and plans to expand the service to more core areas in Abu Dhabi by the end of the year. This initiative follows a federal permit obtained in October, allowing WeRide to conduct fully driverless commercial operations in the UAE. The partnership between WeRide and Uber, which began in December 2024, has already expanded to cover about half of Abu Dhabi’s core areas, including Al Reem and Al Maryah.