- Completely autonomous Robotaxi services are set to commence in Abu Dhabi
- This recent permit allows WeRide’s Robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi to reach unit economics profitability.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 17, 2025 — WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD, HKEX: 0800.HK), a leading worldwide autonomous driving technology firm, has been authorized to initiate completely driverless Robotaxi commercial services. This makes WeRide among the initial companies to obtain a city-wide commercial license for Level 4 autonomous driving outside of the United States (U.S.), and the first non-UAE company to reach this achievement within the UAE.
WeRide Robotaxis operating in Abu Dhabi
Issued on October 31, 2025, this permit allows WeRide’s Robotaxis to conduct commercial activities without a human safety driver present in the vehicle. Commercial service will launch via the Uber and TXAI platforms across Abu Dhabi, with additional information to be released shortly.
WeRide’s application for the permit successfully passed a comprehensive assessment process to gain the required authorizations. Back in July 2023, the company secured the UAE’s inaugural national license covering all categories of self-driving vehicles, permitting autonomous vehicle testing and deployment on public thoroughfares nationwide, contingent on specific emirate-level endorsements.
Guided by the appropriate authorities, WeRide concluded an intensive testing phase, culminating in the authorization for completely driverless commercial services. The well-defined criteria and cooperative methodology ensured adherence to local statutes, with this approval serving as proof of the government’s trust in WeRide’s autonomous driving solutions.
WeRide has deployed Robotaxis in conjunction with TXAI in Abu Dhabi commencing in 2021. In December 2024, WeRide and Uber initiated their Robotaxi ride-hailing collaboration in Abu Dhabi—establishing the most extensive commercial Robotaxi service globally beyond the U.S. and China. By July 2025, this partnership broadened to encompass roughly 50% of Abu Dhabi’s central districts, notably Al Reem and Al Maryah. Working with its associates, WeRide intends to broaden service coverage to the majority of Abu Dhabi’s urban center by the close of 2025.
By October 2025, WeRide Robotaxis had logged nearly one million kilometers within Abu Dhabi. This newest permit eliminates the necessity for a safety attendant inside the vehicle, allowing WeRide’s Robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi to reach profitability based on unit economics.
Starting from Q2 2025, WeRide has been performing completely driverless Robotaxi trials in Abu Dhabi to confirm their dependability prior to commercial rollout, engaging closely with the ITC through a stringent safety and regulatory clearance procedure.
This significant achievement contributes to WeRide’s wider strategy to increase its Middle East fleet to 1,000 Robotaxis by 2026, with an eventual goal of deploying tens of thousands of Robotaxis by 2030.
WeRide Robotaxi GXRs in Abu Dhabi
About WeRide
WeRide stands as a worldwide frontrunner and pioneer within the autonomous driving sector, in addition to being the inaugural publicly listed Robotaxi firm. Our self-driving vehicles have undergone testing or operation in more than 30 cities across 11 nations. Furthermore, we are the first and sole technology company to have secured autonomous driving licenses for its offerings in seven distinct markets: China, the UAE, Singapore, France, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, and the US. Leveraging the intelligent, adaptable, economical, and highly scalable WeRide One platform, WeRide delivers autonomous driving solutions and services spanning from L2 to L4, catering to transportation requirements in the mobility, logistics, and sanitation domains. WeRide earned recognition on Fortune’s 2025 Change the World and 2025 Future 50 compilations.
Media Contact
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes declarations that might be considered “forward-looking” statements under the “safe harbor” stipulations of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are recognizable by terms like “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and comparable phrases. Any statements not based on historical facts, including those concerning WeRide’s convictions, strategies, and projections, are forward-looking. Inherent risks and uncertainties are involved in forward-looking statements. More details concerning these and other risks are accessible in WeRide’s submissions to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All data presented in this press release is current as of its publication date. WeRide assumes no responsibility to amend any forward-looking statement, unless mandated by prevailing law.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
