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.