On February 6, autonomous driving company WeRide and ride-hailing platform Uber announced an upgraded strategic partnership, planning to deploy at least 1,200 robotaxis across the Middle East by 2027. The service will cover three major cities—Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh—with all vehicles integrated into the Uber app to serve the public. Currently, WeRide already operates over 200 robotaxis in the region and expects its local subsidiary to achieve profitability in 2025. Since May 2025, the two companies have expanded their collaboration with a goal of launching autonomous driving services in 15 international cities within five years. Three cities are already operational, with the remaining deployments scheduled for completion by 2030. The operations follow WeRide’s asset-light model: Uber or local partners manage the vehicle fleets, while WeRide provides autonomous driving technology and support for large-scale deployment. This deepened partnership is set to further solidify their leading position in the Middle East’s robotaxi market and accelerate the region’s transition toward fully autonomous mobility.