Autonomous taxi providers are to develop to Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands, two of Abu Dhabi’s most densely populated business and residential areas. Autonomous taxis now cowl about half of Abu Dhabi’s core areas.
The Built-in Transport Centre (ITC) introduced the growth in partnership with WeRide, Uber, and native operator Tawasul Transport. ITC is an affiliate of the Division of Municipalities and Transport. WeRide is a world chief in autonomous driving know-how.
The service builds on current autonomous taxi operations on Al Saadiyat and Yas Islands, plus routes to Zayed Worldwide Airport. Since launching on the Uber platform in December 2024, the autonomous taxi fleet has tripled in dimension. Abu Dhabi at present operates 44 autonomous automobiles, the most important energetic fleet within the area.
The growth helps Abu Dhabi’s aim to make 25% of journeys depend on sensible transport by 2040. The emirate is the primary metropolis within the Center East and North Africa area to commercially function autonomous automobiles.
Al Reem and Al Maryah islands function key facilities for monetary, residential, and business sectors. Their complicated visitors patterns and excessive car density present a perfect testing floor for superior autonomous know-how amid rising visitors challenges.
“Constructing on the success of our earlier sensible mobility initiatives, we’re working to increase the deployment of autonomous automobiles so as to present a safer and extra environment friendly journey expertise, consistent with Abu Dhabi’s sensible transport technique, which goals to supply sustainable and progressive mobility options,” says Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, performing director common of the ITC. “We’re dedicated to embracing progressive and sustainable options to reinforce our transport community and enhance the standard of life for our residents. By working carefully with our strategic companions, we’re accelerating this progress and enhancing the transport expertise for everybody.”
The initiative is a part of Abu Dhabi’s sensible transport technique to create sustainable mobility options. ITC plans to roll out the service to extra areas on Abu Dhabi Island sooner or later. This paves the way in which for business operation of the venture.
A WeRide autonomous taxi van with Uber branding on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi
“We’re happy to develop our autonomous car service in Abu Dhabi to Al Reem and Al Maryah in partnership with WeRide and with the assist of The Built-in Transport Centre,” says Mohamad Jardaneh, head of Autonomous Mobility, Center East at Uber. “We’ve seen some nice engagement from riders in Abu Dhabi since launch and are excited to make autonomous rides extra accessible to much more individuals within the emirate. Simply as Uber helped hundreds of thousands expertise electrical automobiles for the primary time, 2025 would be the yr we carry AV know-how into the mainstream.”
WeRide’s fleet in Abu Dhabi is the most important it operates exterior the US and China. The growth displays profitable strategic partnerships with main know-how and mobility corporations together with WeRide, Space42, Uber and Tawasul Transport.
“This growth provides us the chance to succeed in extra passengers, showcase our superior know-how in complicated city settings, and additional speed up the deployment of autonomous automobiles throughout the town,” says Jennifer Li, CFO at WeRide. “We deeply respect the continuing assist from the Built-in Transport Centre and our robust partnership with Uber, which continues to drive our progress within the Center East and past.”
The venture helps Abu Dhabi’s place as a regional hub for sensible mobility and innovation. It integrates AI and sustainable mobility options as a part of the emirate’s sensible city improvement targets.
