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Uber and Chinese self-driving vehicle company WeRide have launched robotaxi operations without a human safety operator in Dubai as part of a broader expansion into the Middle East.
Riders can now book vehicles through the Uber app, with operations in commercial and industrial areas such as Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Investment Park II, Jebel Ali Industrial Park I, in addition to suburban areas and the maritime trade center Hamriya Port. The service is operated locally by Tawasul, the mobility and fleet operator in the UAE.
The companies first introduced robotaxis to Dubai in December under a pilot program, but did not charge for the rides and still have a human safety operator on board. The government’s Roads and Transport Authority issued a trial permit for self-driving vehicles to companies last month.
The deployment signals an escalation in WeRide’s robo-taxi operations in the region. This also coincides with an increase in Uber’s stake in the company. Uber now has a 5.82% stake in WeRide, according to Documents submitted Monday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The stock stake is valued at about $400 million based on WeRide’s closing stock price on Monday.
“Bringing fully autonomous vehicles to Dubai is an important milestone in making self-driving mobility a global reality. This launch underscores our deep commitment to the UAE and our vision of a hybrid world – where drivers and autonomous vehicles work side by side to create a more resilient network. Especially during challenging times in the region, we are proud to be a partner of this city, ensuring Uber is always there to help people move smoothly and confidently,” said Sarfaraz Maredia, Global Head of Self-Mobility and Self-Driving at Uber. Delivery said in a statement.
Uber Invested $100 million WeRide will launch in May 2025 as part of a commercial robotics partnership to bring the service to 15 more cities over the next five years. Companies have participated earlier That expansion It will include cities in Europe.
Under the partnership, WeRide’s robo-taxi services are available through the Uber app. The relationship is similar to Uber’s deal with Waymo, where the ride-hailing company handles network direction and fleet operations, while the self-driving vehicle company remains responsible for autonomous vehicle technology.