Uber Technologies, Inc UBER and WeRide, Inc WRD announced a partnership to work with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority. The purpose of the partnership is to help Uber make self-driving vehicles a safe and easy way to get around the city of Dubai beginning with WeRide as the first technology partner.

The RTA Director General and Board Chair Mattar Al Tayer said that the partnership is a key milestone to advancing Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to transition 25% of all trips into self-driving trips in the city by 2030 using different modes of transport. Uber and RTA will partner to implement pilot programs utilizing Uber's technology to match riders with self-driving vehicles while providing a seamless and easy user experience.

The partnership will also assess data learnings, safety priorities, and regulatory frameworks to make Dubai a seamless transition to self-driving transportation. WeRide became the UAE’s first AV provider when it received its national license for self-driving vehicles in July 2023. With the launch of Uber and WeRide in Dubai, WeRide is set to launch its A2V commercial in Abu Dhabi on Uber sometime in December 2024.

Former President Donald Trump's favorable view of self-driving cars gave companies in the space a sense of relief following the COVID pandemic in 2020.

Tesla Inc TSLA CEO Elon Musk anticipates the EV giant’s robotaxi fleet will operate similar to Airbnb, Inc ABNB +7.64%, and Uber. The Future Fund's Gary Black estimates a vehicle owner could earn roughly $40,000 a year renting EVs into the robotaxi fleet.