Uber and WeRide are ramping up their robo-taxi operations in Dubai

Uber and Chinese self-driving vehicle company WeRide have launched robotaxi operations without a human safety operator in Dubai as part of a broader expansion into the Middle East.

Riders can now book vehicles through the Uber app, with operations in commercial and industrial areas such as Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Investment Park II, Jebel Ali Industrial Park I, in addition to suburban areas and the maritime trade center Hamriya Port. The service is operated locally by Tawasul, the mobility and fleet operator in the UAE.

The companies first introduced robotaxis to Dubai in December under a pilot program, but did not charge for the rides and still have a human safety operator on board. The government’s Roads and Transport Authority issued a trial permit for self-driving vehicles to companies last month.

The publication signals an escalation in WeRide’s robo-taxi operations in the region and Uber’s continued involvement in the company. Uber has a 5.82% stake in WeRide, according to documents filed Monday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Last year, it invested $100 million in WeRide. Uber’s stock stake is valued at about $150 million based on WeRide’s closing stock price on Monday.

“Bringing fully autonomous vehicles to Dubai is an important milestone in making autonomous mobility a global reality,” Sarfaraz Maredia, global head of autonomous mobility and delivery at Uber, said in a statement. “This launch underscores our deep commitment to the UAE and our vision of a hybrid world – where drivers and autonomous vehicles work side by side to create a more resilient network. Especially during the challenging times the region is going through, we are proud to be a partner of this city, ensuring Uber is always there to help people move smoothly and with confidence.”

Uber increased its investment in WeRide in May 2025 as part of a commercial robotics partnership to bring the service to 15 more cities over the next five years. The companies have previously announced that the expansion will include cities in Europe.

Under the partnership, WeRide’s robo-taxi services are available through the Uber app. The relationship is similar to Uber’s deal with Waymo, where the ride-hailing company handles network direction and fleet operations, while the self-driving vehicle company remains responsible for autonomous vehicle technology.

Correction March 31 at 12:15 PM PT: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Uber had increased its stake in WeRide. A previous version of this article also misstated the value of Uber’s stock stake in WeRide. It stands at about $150 million as of Monday.