Robotaxi makes its first entry into downtown Abu Dhabi, YuanZhu ZhiXing partners with Uber to expand the commercial operation footprint

2026-02-27 05:22:20

News Report (Reporter Yuan Chuanxi): On February 12, WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD, HKEX: 0800) and the global mobility giant Uber (NYSE: UBER) announced the official launch of the first Robotaxi commercial operation in downtown Abu Dhabi. This marks the first deployment of autonomous vehicles in Abu Dhabi’s city center. With this expansion, WeRide and Uber’s Robotaxi operations now cover approximately 70% of Abu Dhabi’s core areas. Since the start of Robotaxi commercial operations in December 2024, the fleet size has quadrupled through the partnership.

The expansion of Robotaxi services will further improve transportation connectivity and convenience in Abu Dhabi, supporting the UAE’s vision for smart mobility. Currently, WeRide has deployed over 200 Robotaxis in the Middle East region.

By 2024, Abu Dhabi’s hotels have hosted a total of 4.8 million visitors, with international tourists increasing by 27% year-over-year. Connecting popular hotels, tourist corridors, and other city areas, the expansion of Robotaxi services will help Abu Dhabi develop into a global tourism hub. This also demonstrates the high level of trust in the safety and operational capabilities of partners in complex urban environments by Abu Dhabi’s integrated transportation center.

This progress highlights the rapid deployment of WeRide and Uber in the UAE. In the coming years, both companies plan to expand their Robotaxi fleets in the Middle East to several thousand vehicles. According to their partnership plan reached in February 2026, WeRide and Uber committed to deploying at least 1,200 Robotaxis in the Middle East by 2027, covering Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh.

As early as November 2025, WeRide and Uber launched the Middle East’s first L4-level fully autonomous Robotaxi commercial operation on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. This milestone was made possible after WeRide obtained the world’s first city-level fully autonomous Robotaxi operation license outside the United States in October 2025, laying the regulatory and technological foundation for large-scale commercial deployment.

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