Ever heard of those incredible and wonderful pitches saying that Disneyland should be commercialized – not that it isn’t – in such a way that the Happiest Place on Earth should have billboards inside, too, or brand partners, like Hawaiian Host chocolates when you’re riding the Pacific part of the It’s a Small World Ride. Yes, there are ongoing pitches like that.
Oh, well, to be quite honest, even Uber is looking to commercialize itself as it partners with key cities worldwide, such as in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, where the world’s number one ridesharing app and WeRide have started to operate commercial robotaxis, making this the first employment of this kind of self-driving cars in the city.
Commercial robotaxis in UAE
Ridesharing media recently reported that with this latest rollout, the businesses have already covered a whopping 70 percent of the key urban districts of the UAE capital, particularly in downtown Abu Dhabi.
Since these commercial services formally launched few years ago, the jointly operated fleet of Uber and WeRide has expanded fourfold, which is a proof of the accelerating demand and support from the government in the Arabian city.
Furthermore, the experience is bound to get even better as the expanded services footprint is supported by the Integrated Transport Centre, stretching across Masdar City, Khalifa City, and Rabdan, while also connecting the Corniche waterfront with the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. This network is responsible for linking the destination’s major landmarks and a cluster of high-end hotels along the Corniche, making the experiences of tourists, residents, and businesses unified more than ever.
Book WeRide cars via the Uber app
That’s just the blueprint. In action, passengers plying these designated zones may book a WeRide robotaxi, get this, via the Uber app, so that makes things even more convenient and hassle-free.
Simply select Uber Comfort or UberX, or choose the dedicated “Autonomous” option. The fleet management is being handled by Tawasul Transport, which is based in the country, as well.
This launch in downtown UAE is being looked at as significantly broadening urban connectivity, supporting the broader smart mobility ambitions of the nation. Prior to this expanded service, though, Uber and WeRide had been serving the city’s core destinations, including Al Reem Island, Al Maryah Island, Yas Island, and Saadiyat Island, as well as highway routes serving Zayed International Airport.
With this service being added, WeRide’s Middle East fleet now exceeds 200 robotaxis, a rapid scaling that showcases the broad ambitions of Abu Dhabi. Over the next few years, the fleet is predicted to grow into thousands, specifically a minimum of 1,200 robotaxis in the region this 2027, hopefully, with services working in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and even beyond UAE, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
You’ve known Uber very well. It’s generally a ridesharing company, but WeRide offers driverless ridesharing options, via autonomous vehicles. It was established in 2017, developing autonomous driving solutions for mobility, logistics, and sanitation, beyond individual use.
As of today, WeRide already operates in more than 40 cities across 11 countries, including China, Singapore, Switzerland, the United States, Saudi Arabia, France, and Belgium, beyond just the United Arab Emirates.