WeRide Inc. (WRD) and Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER) are making a big bet on autonomous vehicles in the Middle East, announcing plans to deploy at least 1,200 robotaxis across three major cities. The expansion marks one of the largest commercial rollouts of self-driving vehicles in the region, with completion targeted by 2027.
The deployment will cover Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh, building on operations that are already live in those markets. The interesting part? WeRide is already running fully driverless commercial operations in Abu Dhabi, while Dubai and Riyadh currently have passenger services up and running.
Scaling Through Uber's Platform
All 1,200 robotaxis will be bookable directly through the Uber app, which makes sense given Uber's existing user base and infrastructure. The rollout won't happen overnight. Instead, the fleet will scale progressively as regulatory approvals come through and performance milestones get checked off. Uber is committing to adding more vehicles as the service expands driverless commercial coverage into core urban areas across the three cities.
What the Executives Are Saying
"Today's announcement marks the largest Robotaxi commercial commitment in the MENA region. Supported by our existing fleet, bold regulators, and partners like Uber who share our ambition for safe and convenient mobility, this commitment accelerates our regional expansion and is a key part of our vision of tens of thousands of Robotaxis globally in the next five years," said Dr. Tony Han, Founder and CEO of WeRide.
Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery at Uber, added: "This expansion with WeRide is an exciting moment for Uber and the Middle East. It is a testament to the strong performance of our existing deployments together, and we look forward to building on that momentum as we introduce more riders to autonomous mobility."
The Business Model Behind the Robots
This expanded deployment pushes forward an earlier agreement between the companies that outlined operations in 15 cities by 2030. WeRide is using an asset-light approach here, with Uber or local partners handling the actual fleet operations. The company currently operates more than 200 robotaxis in the region.
Here's where it gets interesting from a unit economics perspective: In Abu Dhabi, the service is averaging dozens of daily trips per robotaxi and is on track to reach breakeven unit economics. That's a significant milestone because it demonstrates that autonomous mobility in the Middle East isn't just technically feasible but commercially viable.
Price Action: WeRide shares were up 1.63% at $7.48 during premarket trading on Friday. The stock is trading near its 52-week low of $6.03. Uber Technologies shares were up 0.19% at $75.34.
