Abu Dhabi Mobility Expands Autonomous Taxi Service to Reem and Al Maryah Islands

Abu Dhabi Doubles Down on Autonomous Taxis as Middle East's Smart Mobility Race Intensifies

Abu Dhabi has expanded its autonomous taxi service to two of its most densely populated commercial districts, Al Reem and Al Maryah islands, marking a significant escalation in the emirate's bid to transform 25% of all trips into smart transportation by 2040. The expansion, operated through WeRide technology and Uber's platform, now covers half of Abu Dhabi's key zones and represents the largest commercial autonomous vehicle fleet in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Strategic Expansion Into High-Density Commercial Hubs

The choice of Al Reem and Al Maryah islands as expansion targets reflects careful strategic planning. These areas represent Abu Dhabi's financial and residential nerve centers, characterized by complex traffic patterns and high vehicle density that provide an ideal testing ground for autonomous vehicle technology under real-world urban conditions.

Since launching on Uber's platform in December 2024, the autonomous taxi fleet has tripled in size, now operating 44 vehicles across multiple strategic locations including Saadiyat and Yas islands, plus routes to Zayed International Airport. This rapid scaling suggests strong user adoption and operational confidence in the technology.

Market Positioning and Regional Competition

Abu Dhabi's aggressive autonomous vehicle rollout positions it ahead of regional competitors like Dubai and Saudi Arabia's NEOM project in practical deployment. While other Gulf states have announced ambitious smart city plans, Abu Dhabi has moved from pilot programs to commercial operations, creating a first-mover advantage in the region's emerging autonomous transportation market.

The partnership structure—combining WeRide's technology, Uber's platform reach, and local operator Tawasul—demonstrates a hybrid approach that balances international expertise with regulatory compliance and local market knowledge.

Technology and Infrastructure Implications

WeRide's selection of Abu Dhabi for its largest fleet outside the US and China signals the emirate's emergence as a global testbed for autonomous vehicle technology. The complex urban environment of Al Reem and Al Maryah, with their mix of residential towers, commercial centers, and heavy traffic, provides valuable data for refining autonomous driving algorithms in Middle Eastern conditions.

The expansion also reflects significant infrastructure investment in smart traffic systems, 5G connectivity, and regulatory frameworks necessary to support autonomous vehicles at commercial scale. This infrastructure development creates spillover benefits for other smart city initiatives and positions Abu Dhabi as a regional hub for mobility innovation.

Economic and Investment Perspective

For investors and mobility companies, Abu Dhabi's autonomous taxi expansion represents a proof-of-concept for autonomous vehicle commercialization in emerging markets. The successful scaling from pilot to commercial operations, with fleet tripling in months, demonstrates viable demand and regulatory support that could attract additional investment in the sector.

The integration with established platforms like Uber also reduces market entry barriers and user adoption challenges that have hindered autonomous vehicle deployment in other markets. This model could become a template for autonomous vehicle rollouts in other Gulf cities and emerging markets globally.

Broader Smart City Strategy

The autonomous taxi expansion forms part of Abu Dhabi's comprehensive smart transportation strategy, which aims to create a sustainable, AI-powered mobility ecosystem. By targeting 25% smart transportation adoption by 2040, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a regional model for urban development that other Middle Eastern cities are likely to emulate.

Dr. Abdullah Al Ghafli, Acting Director General of the Integrated Transport Centre, emphasized that the expansion represents "an important milestone in Abu Dhabi's journey toward achieving its vision of a smarter and safer transportation system," highlighting the government's commitment to scaling innovative mobility solutions.

The success of this expansion will likely influence autonomous vehicle adoption across the Gulf region and provide valuable insights for global mobility companies seeking to enter emerging markets with supportive regulatory environments and significant infrastructure investment capacity.