Driverless Uber Revolutionizes Abu Dhabi Transport

Abu Dhabi Opens New Era: Driverless Uber Rides in Everyday Life

Abu Dhabi is making history again in the field of mobility, as one of the world’s first fully autonomous Uber rides have officially started operating in the city. This is not only a triumph of technology but also the beginning of a new transportation culture that emphasizes safety, comfort, and a future-oriented approach. Driverless vehicles are no longer just settings for sci-fi films: during a trip around Yas Island, it truly felt as if a ghost was driving the car – yet every movement was calculated and controlled.

Cutting-Edge Technology in Daily Life

As a result of the collaboration between Uber and WeRide, fully autonomous transportation has now become a reality with real passengers in a live environment for the first time. The cars are not only electric but are also equipped with advanced sensors, cameras, and onboard computers that can analyze even the slightest road conditions in real time. The steering wheel turns by itself, the vehicle accelerates, brakes, changes lanes, and behaves courteously towards pedestrians all on its own.

Cars do not begin their journey until every passenger has fastened their seatbelt. If anyone tries to open the door while moving, the system immediately pulls over and stops the vehicle. It can even detect smoking and responds with an automatic shutdown. This is not just a warning but a clear signal: the autonomous system is stricter and more consistent than any human driver.

Abu Dhabi, First in the Region

Based on new regulations approved by the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), the emirate has become the first place in the Middle East and North Africa where commercial operation of driverless, so-called Level 4 autonomous vehicles is fully authorized. This means the vehicle operates independently in all situations without human interference.

The first operational licenses were granted to two consortia: one starting through the cooperation of WeRide and Uber, the other through the partnership of AutoGo–K2 and ApolloGo–Baidu. Issuing the licenses was preceded by a long testing and evaluation process, including safety trials in real traffic.

The Logic of Gradual Introduction

While the technology is ready for introduction, the system will not replace traditional Uber services overnight. Initially, driverless cars can only be called in certain parts of Abu Dhabi – such as Yas Island, around the Abu Dhabi airport, and Al Maryah Island. The Uber app will automatically order an autonomous vehicle if the trip falls entirely within these zones.

The aim is not to make every vehicle autonomous immediately but to execute a gradual, safe expansion. Part of the fleet will be supplemented with such vehicles, and over time, more areas will become available within the service.

Safety Above All

The main advantages of the technology are predictability and error-free operation. Autonomous vehicles do not tire, do not get distracted, and do not reach for their phones. Significant portions of road accidents are caused by human inattention or error – a factor the system entirely eliminates.

There is always supporting staff available around the vehicles who can intervene in emergencies, but importantly, there is no remote controlling. While the system can be monitored in real time, driving the vehicle is solely the task of onboard algorithms. Remote intervention delays could be life-threatening, thus they are not applied.

Experiences and Feedback

During the testing period that has been ongoing since 2021, WeRide’s robotaxis have covered more than 800,000 kilometers in Abu Dhabi. Each vehicle completes up to 20 trips in a 12-hour shift. Feedback during the test period was particularly positive – especially among younger passengers who are open to new technologies and appreciate the comfort that robotic travel provides.

Pricing and Operation Under Extreme Conditions

The pricing for driverless Uber rides is the same as for traditional UberX or Comfort categories. If both the starting and ending points are within the designated zone, the passenger does not pay more than if they traveled with a human-driven vehicle. There is also an option to select the “autonomous-only” within the same price range.

Autonomous vehicles operate even in extreme heat – as the sensors can withstand the high temperatures typical in the region. However, the system is sensitive to dust storms and dense fog: under such weather conditions, the AV fleet is automatically stopped, and traditional Uber vehicles take over the task.

The Future Arrives Quietly

When the journey concluded, the car slowed down on its own, parked in a designated zone, and the doors opened quietly – the ride ended almost unnoticed. There was no loud engine noise, no driver to look back and say goodbye. Just a precise, autonomous system doing its job.

With this step, Abu Dhabi has showcased not only the future of transportation but also the next level of smart city infrastructure development. While the rest of the world is still experimenting with fully autonomous vehicles, here they have become a real alternative in everyday transportation.

This quiet, safe, and efficient solution has a good chance of transforming the entire region’s approach to mobility, and cities like Dubai or other UAE cities may soon follow Abu Dhabi’s example. The future is no longer around the corner – it’s in the driver’s seat. Only, it's just empty.

(Source: Based on Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) approval.)