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In the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, users of Uber will now have the option to hail an autonomous robotaxi alongside standard ride-hail services.
The development is the result of a strategic partnership between Uber and WeRide, forged in September 2024, which saw the rollout of autonomous pilots across the city.
For now, WeRide’s next generation GXR robotaxis will be equipped with a safety operator during the early stages of operation. The autonomous vehicles will subsequently transition to fully driverless operation. This phased approach allows for vital data collection and fine-tuning under varied conditions.
This achievement marks the first time that autonomous vehicles are publicly available on the Uber platform in Saudi Arabia.
In the early stages of deployment, the commercial fleet will operate on a designated route linking Roshn Front and Princess Noura University.
Jennifer Li, CFO and Head of International at WeRide, spoke on the topic:
“We’re proud to partner with Uber to introduce autonomous mobility in Riyadh, marking another global milestone for WeRide and for the Kingdom’s journey toward smart and sustainable transport.”
Earlier this year, the partners announced plans to expand further into new markets, aiming to enter 15 cities outside the U.S. and China.
Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery at Uber, described the achievement as “an important next step in our progress across the Middle East”.
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