Abu Dhabi just got fully driverless Ubers on Yas Island

WeRide and Uber have launched the Middle East’s first fully driverless robotaxi service on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Here’s how it works, where it runs, and how to book a ride.

Uber’s driverless robotaxis launch in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi just flipped a big switch for future transport: you can now book a fully driverless Uber on Yas Island, and there will be no one sitting behind the wheel.

WeRide and Uber have started Level 4 robotaxi commercial operations in the capital, backed by Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) and fleet operator Tawasul. The city becomes the first outside the US – and the first in the Middle East – to run fully driverless robotaxis on the Uber platform.

WeRide and Uber have switched on Level 4 fully driverless robotaxis on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi – with no safety driver inside.
It’s the first fully driverless robotaxi service on the Uber platform outside the US, and the first of its kind in the Middle East.
You can be matched with a WeRide robotaxi when you choose UberX, Uber Comfort, or the new Autonomous option in the Uber app.
The rollout starts with a 12-square-mile zone on Yas Island, with plans to cover more of Abu Dhabi’s core areas by the end of 2025.
Fares are in the same ballpark as UberX and Comfort – no sci-fi surcharge for going driverless.

Fully driverless Ubers arrive in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi isn’t just testing self-driving cars anymore – it’s putting them to work with paying passengers.

Level 4 fully driverless robotaxis now operate on Yas Island
No safety driver or “vehicle specialist” inside the car during commercial rides
First fully driverless robotaxi operations on Uber outside the US
Backed by ITC’s city-level permit for fully autonomous robotaxis

WeRide’s Robotaxi GXR vans handle the driving using a mix of LiDAR, radar and cameras, constantly mapping the road and reacting to traffic. Early riders describe the trips as smooth and predictable, with the system refusing to move until every passenger has their seatbelt on.

Where and how to book a robotaxi today

You don’t need a secret beta code. You just need the normal Uber app.

Service is live on Yas Island, covering roughly 12 square miles
Choose UberX or Uber Comfort and you may be matched with a WeRide robotaxi
Choose the new Autonomous option to increase your chances of a driverless car
Pricing is aligned with UberX / Comfort, not a luxury tier

Right now, the service focuses on Yas Island – so think trips between places like the theme parks, Etihad Arena, hotels and malls. If you live or stay around Yas, this could become your default way to get around. For everyone else in the UAE, it’s an easy excuse to plan a Yas weekend and try it yourself (maybe before or after hitting one of the festivals and events the island keeps hosting).

What “Level 4” actually means in real life

Level 4 autonomy sounds like brochure jargon, so let’s translate it.

The car can drive itself in a defined area and set of conditions
No human driver is needed inside the vehicle during normal operation
A remote operations team can still monitor and support if needed
The system is designed to handle most situations on public roads in that zone

In simple terms: the car is in charge, but only inside a specific “operational zone” that’s been mapped, tested and approved. If conditions fall outside that envelope (for example, extreme weather or a blocked road that isn’t mapped yet), the system can slow, stop, or request remote help rather than improvising like a human. That’s why the launch is limited to Yas Island first, with expansion to more parts of Abu Dhabi planned once data and regulators are happy.

If you’re into autonomy in general, this sits in the same Level 4 bucket as the personal Robocar projects we’ve already seen teased for Dubai and Abu Dhabi, like Tensor’s upcoming L4 Robocar for private owners.

Abu Dhabi’s bigger autonomous game plan

This launch didn’t come out of nowhere – the UAE has been building up to it for years.

WeRide has run robotaxis in Abu Dhabi since 2021
It holds a national licence covering all types of self-driving vehicles in the UAE
ITC recently started issuing permits for fully autonomous commercial services as part of a wider smart mobility push
Abu Dhabi has already hosted autonomous racing and Robocar demos at Yas Marina Circuit and DRIFTx

Zoom out and you can see a pattern: autonomous race cars at A2RL, L4 personal Robocars rolling into the UAE, and now everyday robotaxis you can summon from your phone. Abu Dhabi wants to be the testbed for how self-driving vehicles fit into normal life, not just glossy demos – and it keeps using Yas as the showcase.

For Uber, it also plugs neatly into its wider robotaxi ambitions, including a recent deal with Stellantis, NVIDIA and Foxconn to build thousands of Level 4 cars for future services.

What’s next for robotaxis in the UAE?

Today it’s Yas Island. The roadmap is much bigger.

Plan to scale robotaxi coverage to more of Abu Dhabi’s core areas by end of 2025
Fleet is already over 100 WeRide robotaxis in the Middle East, with room to grow
Uber’s Autonomous option is designed to be reused in other cities as more partners come online
The Abu Dhabi pilot targets breakeven unit economics – so this isn’t just a PR stunt

If all goes to plan, you’ll see driverless Ubers move off Yas and into more “normal” Abu Dhabi use cases: airport runs, mall trips, office commutes. That sets up an interesting future where shared robotaxis, private L4 Robocars and traditional cars all share UAE roads – something we’ve already seen teased across multiple projects covered on tbreak, from Tensor’s personal Robocar to AI-powered cockpits and city-wide autonomy trials.

FAQs: driverless Uber robotaxis in Abu Dhabi

How do I book a driverless Uber in Abu Dhabi?

You use the regular Uber app:

Set your pickup and drop-off on Yas Island
Choose UberX or Uber Comfort to possibly get a robotaxi
For higher chances, pick the Autonomous option in the app

If a WeRide robotaxi is available in your area and time window, the system matches you to it automatically – no separate app needed.

Which areas of Abu Dhabi are covered right now?

At launch, the service is focused on Yas Island, in a roughly 12-square-mile zone that has been pre-mapped and tested. Over the coming months, WeRide and Uber plan to expand coverage to more of Abu Dhabi’s core districts, such as Al Reem and Al Maryah, and eventually most of the city’s main urban areas.

How much does a driverless Uber cost in Abu Dhabi?

Uber says pricing is in line with UberX and Uber Comfort, which are its most affordable tiers in the UAE. In other words, you’re paying normal ride-hailing prices for a trip with no driver in the front seat, not a premium “futuristic” surcharge.

Is the Abu Dhabi robotaxi service safe?

The service has:

A federal permit for fully driverless commercial operations
ITC approval as the first city-level fully driverless robotaxi licence
Cars loaded with LiDAR, radar and cameras to build a live 3D view of the road
Safety rules like app-controlled doors and seatbelt checks before moving

On top of that, remote operations teams can monitor fleets and step in if the system encounters something unexpected. It’s not “no humans involved” – it’s “no human in the driver’s seat”.

Will driverless Ubers come to Dubai or other UAE cities?

Nothing official yet, but the direction is clear. WeRide already has a UAE-wide licence for self-driving vehicle testing and operation, and Uber is busy signing deals for more robotaxis globally.

If Abu Dhabi hits its targets and the numbers make sense, it’s hard to imagine Dubai and other emirates sitting this one out – especially with personal Robocar projects and AI-heavy car tech already targeting UAE roads.