Uber Technologies and WeRide have partnered with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to introduce autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the city. Further details regarding the launch and subsequent phases of the AV pilot programme in Dubai will be revealed in the coming months.
This collaboration marks a significant step towards integrating AVs into daily life in Dubai, with WeRide serving as Uber’s first technology partner, according to a press statement.
Under the agreement, Uber and RTA will work together on pilot initiatives, utilising Uber’s technology to connect passengers with AVs while ensuring a smooth and efficient user experience.
The partnership will also focus on analysing data insights, implementing safety measures, and developing regulatory frameworks to facilitate a seamless transition to autonomous mobility in Dubai.
In July 2023, WeRide became the first AV provider to receive the UAE’s national licence for operating self-driving vehicles on public roads. The Dubai launch follows the successful commercial deployment of WeRide AVs in Abu Dhabi via Uber in December 2024.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA, stated: “This partnership with Uber, with WeRide as the technology partner, is a key milestone in advancing Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to make 25% of all journeys in the city autonomous across various transport modes by 2030.”
Al Tayer further noted: “This collaboration highlights RTA’s dedication to working with global technology leaders and forms part of a series of autonomous mobility trials initiated in 2016, which have expanded significantly in scope over the years.”
