WeRide's UAE Autonomous Driving Deployment Named Top 10 AI Case Study in China's National Collection
WeRide's autonomous driving operations in the UAE have been recognized as one of China's top 10 examples of international AI cooperation, the only autonomous driving company on the list.
- approximately 70%
- over 40
- 8
- over 3,000 vehicles
What Happened
WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD; HKEX: 0800) announced that its autonomous driving deployment in the United Arab Emirates has been selected as one of the Top 10 examples of international cooperation in Chinese AI technologies and products in the national case collection "AI From China Benefits the World (2026)." The collection was released at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) by China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). WeRide was the only autonomous driving company included, with its UAE operations recognized as a benchmark for international deployment of Chinese AI innovation.
WeRide began public Robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi, becoming one of the first autonomous driving companies in the country.
WeRide received the UAE's first national license for self-driving vehicles, authorizing testing and operation on public roads nationwide.
WeRide and Uber launched the largest commercial Robotaxi service outside the US and China in Abu Dhabi.
WeRide expanded Robotaxi services to Ras Al Khaimah, its third emirate.
WeRide became the first company to launch fully driverless commercial Robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi, enabled by the world's first city-level L4 permit outside the US.
Today, WeRide operates fully driverless Robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, accessible through the Uber platform, and is the only company outside the US providing such services on Uber. Its robotaxi network covers approximately 70% of Abu Dhabi's core urban areas, with operations spanning three emirates. The company's progress aligns with the UAE's long-term transportation strategy, including Dubai's target of 25% autonomous journeys by 2030 and Abu Dhabi's plans to increase autonomous mobility share.
Beyond the UAE, WeRide has launched public Robotaxi services in Riyadh and Singapore and is expanding into Madrid and Zurich. Its autonomous driving products are present in more than 40 cities across 12 countries. The company holds autonomous driving permits in eight countries and operates a global Level 4 autonomous driving fleet of over 3,000 vehicles.
over 3,000vehicles
WeRide operates the fleet across multiple countries, with permits in eight markets.
Why this matters
This recognition highlights how Chinese autonomous driving technology is successfully deployed, regulated, and commercialized abroad. WeRide's robotaxi services are now part of daily transportation in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah, covering 70% of Abu Dhabi's core urban areas. The milestone supports the UAE's goal of 25% autonomous journeys by 2030 and shows a path for global expansion of autonomous mobility.
Terms in This Story
- Robotaxi
- A self-driving taxi that operates without a human driver.
- Level 4 autonomy (L4)
- A level of vehicle automation where the car can handle all driving tasks in specific conditions without human intervention.
- Autonomous driving permit
- A government-issued license that allows a company to test or operate self-driving vehicles on public roads.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.