In the United Arab Emirates, the country’s largest city — Dubai — has officially introduced a new transport project. According to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), driverless taxis (robotaxi) began operating on the city’s streets in December 2025.
Key Features
- Partnership: The project is carried out in collaboration with WeRide and Uber Technologies.
- Availability: Passengers can book a driverless taxi via the Uber app by selecting the “Autonomous” option.
- Routes: At this initial stage, the service is available only in the Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah districts along the coastline.
- Safety: For now, a safety operator remains inside the vehicles, but full autonomous operation is planned in the future.
- Strategic Goal: Under the “Self‑Driving Transport Strategy,” Dubai aims to make 25% of all trips driverless by 2030.
RTA’s Head of Public Transport Ahmed Bahrozyan stated: “WeRide robotaxis can now be booked through the Uber app. At this first stage, they are operating in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah. This is a key step in implementing Dubai’s smart city strategy.”
RTA Director General Mattar Al Tayer emphasized that the launch of driverless taxis is part of Dubai’s plan to become one of the world’s most innovative and smart cities.
