02:07 19-11-2025

Abu Dhabi grants WeRide a permit for fully driverless Level 4 robotaxis

WeRide gains UAE approval to run driverless Level 4 robotaxis in Abu Dhabi, operating on public roads without safety drivers and scaling citywide by 2030.

Chinese company WeRide has secured the UAE’s first municipal permit to operate fully driverless SAE Level 4 robotaxis. Issued on October 31, the approval allows the company to run on public roads in Abu Dhabi without safety operators onboard—an important step for a region intent on becoming a hub for autonomous mobility and a clear sign that regulators are ready to move from pilots to real service.

WeRide has been testing robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi with TXAI since 2021, and since 2024 it has also partnered with Uber, expanding the coverage area. In 2025, the autonomous fleet logged nearly one million kilometers on the capital’s routes, which became a key argument for the green light to “driver-out” operations. Milestones like this are often what tip the balance from cautious trials to trusted deployment.

The new status strips out a major cost barrier: operating without safety drivers should help the company move faster toward breakeven. As early as 2026, WeRide plans to grow the fleet to 1,000 vehicles, and by 2030—to tens of thousands, covering all of central Abu Dhabi and reinforcing the region’s status as one of the leaders in autonomous transport. The trajectory suggests a shift from merely proving the technology to scaling it across real city streets.