Uber and WeRide Partner with RTA to Launch Driverless Rides in Dubai

In a groundbreaking move for urban mobility, Uber and autonomous vehicle company WeRide have teamed up with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to introduce self-driving rides in the city. This collaboration, announced recently, aims to test and deploy autonomous vehicles (AVs) as part of Dubai’s ambitious plan to make 25% of all city journeys driverless by 2030.

The partnership will kick off with pilot programs designed to seamlessly integrate AVs into daily transportation. Uber will leverage its global ride-hailing platform to connect passengers with self-driving vehicles, while WeRide, the first technology partner in this initiative, brings its cutting-edge autonomous technology to the table. Together, the trio will focus on key areas such as data utilization, safety protocols, and the development of regulatory frameworks to support this futuristic shift.

WeRide is no stranger to the UAE’s autonomous driving landscape. In July 2023, the company secured the UAE’s first national license for public road AV operations. Building on this milestone, WeRide launched commercial autonomous rides on Uber’s platform in Abu Dhabi in December 2024. Now, Dubai is set to become the next proving ground for this innovative technology.

A Step Toward Dubai’s Autonomous Future

Mattar Al Tayer, RTA’s Director General and Chairman, hailed the partnership as a pivotal moment in Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy. “This collaboration with Uber, starting with WeRide as the technology partner, represents a crucial step in advancing Dubai’s vision to transform 25% of all journeys into autonomous trips by 2030,” he said. “It underscores RTA’s commitment to engaging with global technology leaders and builds on a series of autonomous mobility trials launched in 2016.”

Dubai’s push for driverless transport is part of a broader effort to position the city as a global leader in smart mobility. This initiative aligns with Uber’s worldwide efforts to mainstream autonomous vehicles, with similar projects underway in cities across the globe.

Global Expertise Meets Local Ambition

Noah Zych, Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, expressed excitement about the collaboration: “We’re thrilled to be working with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority to bring autonomous vehicles onto the Uber platform, starting with our technology partner WeRide. At Uber, we’re building the future of transportation, working with the world’s leading autonomous vehicle developers to help commercialize and deploy this technology at scale.”

Jennifer Li, Chief Financial Officer and Head of International Business at WeRide, echoed this sentiment: “Dubai marks a natural step forward in our commitment to advancing mobility in the Middle East and our continued global expansion. We believe our advanced autonomous driving technology and operational experience, combined with Uber’s powerful global mobility platform, will help us serve millions of consumers in cities around the world.”

The partnership not only highlights Dubai’s role as a hub for innovation but also reinforces the UAE’s growing influence in the autonomous vehicle sector. As pilot programs roll out, residents and visitors alike can look forward to experiencing a new era of transportation—one where the driver’s seat might just stay empty.