Dubai: The Dubai RTA announced on June 15, 2025, that it has signed a groundbreaking agreement with Uber and WeRide, a global leader in self-driving technology. With this strategic partnership, they plan to start testing driverless taxis in Dubai later this year.
In the initial phase of testing, self-driving taxis will be operated with a safety driver on board, and these can be booked through the Uber app. If the trial runs of robotaxis are successful by the end of this year, fully driverless robotaxis will be launched in Dubai by 2026. This strategic move aligns with the city’s bigger goal to make 25% of all trips in Dubai driverless by 2030.
Dubai Joins Forces with Global Leaders in Self-Driving Technology
RTA’s DG and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Mattar Al Tayer, said that the introduction of driverless taxis in Dubai is a big step toward smarter and sustainable transportation. He added that this initiative aligns with the vision of the UAE’s leader to make Dubai one of the smartest cities in the world. He further said this initiative backs Dubai’s goal of having one in four trips in the city run by fully driverless vehicles by 2030.
Earlier in April, RTA announced that self-driving or robotaxis would officially launch across the city in 2026. According to the details shared by the authority last month, over 60 vehicles will be used in the first phase or trial phase, for mapping roads, collecting data, and scanning routes, which will begin in up to 65 selected areas across the emirate.
Smart Mobility with Self-Driving Taxis: Dubai’s Next Big Move
Uber’s Regional GM for the Middle East and Africa, Frans Hiemstra, said that the future of transport is driverless, shared, and battery-powered. Speaking about the Uber and Dubai RTA partnership, he said this new partnership is an important step toward smart mobility. He further said this strategy collaboration shows our strong commitment to making self-driving cars easily accessible or more available to people worldwide. He also said that they are looking forward to providing this new way of travel to thousands of residents in Dubai later this year.
This move is also seen as part of one of the best startup story developments in the field of mobility technology, showcasing how innovative partnerships can shape urban transportation across the world
The testing trials for self-driving cars in the UAE began in Abu Dhabi late last year. In an interview, a reputed publishing house in Dubai, Uber’s Head of Autonomous Mobility for the Middle East, Mohamad Jardanhe, shared a helpful tip that the Emirati residents can maximise their chances to get a self-driving car or a robotaxi by adjusting the settings of the Ride Preferences in the Uber app.
WeRide’s CFO and Head of International, Jennifer Li, said that their company was speeding up its global expansion with cities in the Middle East as a key priority. She further added that in the last month, May, the company has expanded its partnership with Uber to launch robo taxis in 15 more cities over the next five years. Now, WeRide, Uber, and Dubai RTA have formalised their collaboration to bring driverless taxis to Dubai through this new agreement, she added.
The driverless taxis in Dubai initiative showcases the Dubai government’s vision to promote and support sustainable and smart transportation in the emirate, which aligns with its goal to secure a top position in the driverless revolution across the region.
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