by ZHANG Xilong

Guangzhou-based WeRide (HKEX: 0800; NASDAQ: WRD) has received approval from the United Arab Emirates federal government to operate a fully driverless Robotaxi service across Abu Dhabi, marking the first citywide Level 4 autonomous driving license outside the United States, the company said on Nov. 10.

The permit, granted on Oct. 31, allows WeRide to begin paid rides without safety drivers. Services will initially be launched via Uber and TXAI platforms in Abu Dhabi. WeRide said the new license will enable its Abu Dhabi fleet to reach vehicle-level breakeven.

WeRide first entered the UAE in 2021 with TXAI, a government-backed ride-hailing platform, and later launched a joint Robotaxi program with Uber in 2024. It obtained the country's first nationwide autonomous driving road license in 2023 and began fully driverless pilot runs in mid-2024.

The company said it now operates more than 100 Robotaxis in the Middle East — its biggest commercial operation beyond China and the United States — with nearly 1 million kilometers logged in Abu Dhabi. The fleet will expand to 1,000 vehicles by the end of 2026 and over 10,000 by 2030.

WeRide's CFO LI Xuan said the company is focusing on markets with stronger unit economics, citing higher fares in the Middle East, Singapore and Europe. The firm's first-half revenue rose 61% to 127 million yuan (about US$19 million), while net losses narrowed slightly to 406 million yuan.

Analysts say high incomes and "smart city" ambitions make the Gulf a promising region for autonomous driving. "In cities like Dubai, building smart, safer transport is a top priority," said JIANG Han of the Pangoal Institution. "That's why autonomous driving is being fast-tracked."

WeRide has also deployed Robobus shuttles and Robosweeper vehicles in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The company said it has developed a thermal management system and sensor self-cleaning technology to cope with the region's extreme heat and saline air.

Competitors are also moving in. GM's Cruise plans to deploy 4,000 driverless taxis in Dubai by 2030, while Baidu's Apollo Go is partnering with Uber to launch Robotaxi services in the Middle East next year, and Pony.ai has begun road tests in Qatar and Dubai.