Image Credit : Dubai RTA
Dubai residents can now experience driverless taxi rides in parts of the city, with up to 50 trips offered free of charge under a new pilot programme launched by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in partnership with Uber and autonomous mobility firm WeRide.
The Robotaxi service is now live on the Uber app under the ‘Autonomous’ ride option. During the pilot phase, the service is limited to Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah and operates daily from 9am to 4pm. A trained safety driver remains on board during this stage, ahead of a planned transition to fully driverless operations early next year.
As part of a promotional offer running until the end of January 2026, Uber is offering users 50 free autonomous rides, capped at Dh500 per trip. The offer applies only to trips that begin and end within the designated service zones.
According to Uber, a typical journey such as from Jumeirah Mosque to Kite Beach, which would normally cost around Dh45 on UberX during peak hours, can now be taken at no cost using the autonomous option.
Where the service is available
The driverless taxis currently operate from 20 designated pick-up and drop-off points across Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim. These include popular locations such as Kite Beach, Jumeirah Mosque, La Mer Beach, Jumeirah Public Beach and the Four Seasons Resort.
The ‘Autonomous’ option will only appear in the Uber app if the user is located near one of the approved pick-up points. If the service is not available at the user’s location, the app displays a prompt stating that autonomous rides are offered only in select areas, along with a map showing eligible zones.
How to book a driverless taxi
Users can book a Robotaxi by opening the Uber app and entering their destination as usual. If both the pick-up and drop-off points fall within the approved areas, the ‘Autonomous’ option will appear alongside other ride types.
A promotional banner offering “100 per cent off Autonomous rides” will be visible in the app, allowing users to redeem the free rides before January 29, 2026. Once selected, users can confirm their pick-up location and request the ride. Waiting times may range from five to over 20 minutes, depending on demand and vehicle availability.
About the Robotaxi vehicles
The WeRide Robotaxis are designed to accommodate up to five passengers, with second- and third-row seating offering generous legroom and cabin space. The company said it currently operates around 150 autonomous vehicles across the Middle East.
Jennifer Li, chief financial officer and head of international at WeRide, said the Dubai rollout reflects the company’s confidence in its technology. “Our progress in Dubai is enabled by autonomous driving systems that have been tested and validated globally. We are expanding rapidly across the Middle East, with a long-term vision to deploy tens of thousands of Robotaxis by 2030,” she said.
Part of Dubai’s long-term mobility strategy
RTA said the pilot supports Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to convert 25 per cent of all journeys in the emirate to autonomous transport by 2030.
WeRide is one of three companies working with RTA on self-driving taxi trials in Dubai, alongside Pony.ai and Apollo Go, operated by Chinese technology group Baidu. Earlier trials by Apollo Go in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim featured pre-set routes and onboard comfort features, including massage seats, as companies continue to test and refine autonomous mobility solutions in real-world conditions.
