A new kind of taxi has started in Dubai. On March 31, 2026, WeRide and Uber began fully driverless, paid Robotaxi rides in the city. Riders can book one in the Uber app by choosing the “Autonomous” option. At first, the service began in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim, two popular coastal areas. Uber says this launch is part of the first batch of Level 4 Robotaxis to enter commercial service in Dubai. (investor.uber.com)
This change did not happen overnight. On December 12, 2025, WeRide and Uber first opened Robotaxi passenger rides in Dubai, but those cars had a vehicle specialist on board for safety. Then, in February 2026, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, or RTA, gave WeRide a driverless vehicle trial permit. After that step, the companies moved to rides with no human operator inside the car. (investor.uber.com)
The new taxis are part of a bigger Dubai plan. The city wants 25% of all journeys to be autonomous by 2030. RTA has connected Robotaxi work to this goal, and the March 2026 launch says more service areas may come later. These possible future areas include Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Investment Park Second, Jabal Ali Industrial First, Nad Al Sheba, Wadi Al Safa, Warsan, Ras Al Khor, and Al Hamriya Port. Tawasul is handling fleet management for the WeRide vehicles on Uber. (investor.uber.com)
This story is interesting because it shows that “future travel” is no longer only an idea. In Dubai, some people can already open an app, call a taxi, and ride in a car with no driver. WeRide and Uber also said in February 2026 that they plan to deploy at least 1,200 Robotaxis across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh, with the rollout expected as soon as 2027. So, the driverless taxi in Dubai may be only the beginning of a much bigger change in everyday travel. (investor.uber.com)










