Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has authorized two autonomous driving companies, Pony ai and WeRide, to begin testing self-driving vehicles on the city’s roads. The initiative aligns with Dubai’s strategy to incorporate robotaxis into its public transportation system, advancing the city’s goal to shift a quarter of all travel to autonomous vehicles by 2030.
The development comes after the companies revealed plans to launch robotaxi services in Singapore. Pony ai has begun pilot trials in specific parts of Dubai, aiming to roll out a driverless taxi service by 2026.
Meanwhile, WeRide secured its trial permit by the RTA earlier this month.
Pony ai began mass production of its seventh-generation autonomous driving technology this year. Its fleet has expanded to over 500 vehicles, now operating in urban areas across China’s major cities. Additionally, the company is evaluating a partnership with Uber to offer services in the Middle East and has launched 24/7 testing operations in Seoul, South Korea.
“Building on our collaboration with local partners and regulators, we are committed to accelerating the deployment of our robotaxi services in Dubai and across the broader Middle East market,” Pony ai CEO and founder Dr. James Peng said.
WeRide stated that its initial robotaxi GXR trial will operate in key commercial and residential zones, with future plans to expand to Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai International Airport, and additional downtown areas.
Starting with a fleet of 50 robotaxi GXRs, the company aims to grow its Middle East fleet to 1,000 vehicles and deploy tens of thousands by 2030.
WeRide has commenced road testing in central Dubai and will soon launch trials with a safety officer on board via the Uber platform, aiming for fully driverless commercial services by 2026. During the 2025 Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with the RTA to collaborate on the Dubai Autonomous Zone.
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