Abu Dhabi Launches First Commercial Fully Autonomous Vehicle Service in the MENA Region
Abu Dhabi has officially begun commercial operations of fully driverless, Level 4 autonomous vehicles, becoming the first city in the Middle East and North Africa to achieve this landmark.
The announcement was made at DRIFTx 2025, held during the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week and organised by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC).
The rollout follows extensive collaboration between Abu Dhabi Mobility, the UAE Regulations Lab, and SASC to establish a safe, well-regulated environment for self-driving technologies in line with national legislative frameworks.
First Commercial Permits Issued
Abu Dhabi Mobility has issued the first two permits for fully autonomous operations:
WeRide, in partnership with Uber and Tawasul
AutoGo–K2, in collaboration with ApolloGo–Baidu
Both operators completed stringent safety checks covering system performance, sensor capabilities, and real-world traffic behaviour.
Strong Testing Record
WeRide Robotaxis logged over 800,000 km in Abu Dhabi by October 2025, with each vehicle averaging 20 trips per 12-hour shift. The WeRide–Uber fleet now forms the largest commercial Robotaxi network in the Middle East, covering nearly half of Abu Dhabi’s core area.
AutoGo–K2 achieved full unmanned Level 4 approval on Yas Island within just a few months, completing 100,000+ km of autonomous testing and progressing rapidly from supervised runs to completely driverless service.
Advanced Monitoring for Public Safety
Abu Dhabi Mobility will oversee operations through a real-time digital monitoring platform, the first of its kind in the region. The system enables:
Live vehicle tracking
Instant incident logging
Compliance monitoring
Data-driven safety analysis
This platform reinforces public trust and ensures operators adhere to strict standards.
A Strategic Step Toward Smart Mobility
Dr. Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director General of Abu Dhabi Mobility, called the authorisation “a strategic milestone” that positions Abu Dhabi as a global leader in smart, sustainable mobility. He highlighted the emirate’s strong regulatory frameworks and its commitment to implementing advanced technologies safely.
Paving the Road to a Fully Smart Mobility Ecosystem
The launch marks a major step toward building a fully integrated smart mobility system in Abu Dhabi. With global tech partners onboard, the emirate is accelerating the adoption of autonomous transport and strengthening its standing as a pioneer in future mobility solutions.
