Autonomous driving innovator WeRide has officially launched operations in Saudi Arabia, signaling a significant step in its global expansion strategy. The move places WeRide at the forefront of the Kingdom’s efforts to adopt advanced transportation technologies in line with Vision 2030 — Saudi Arabia’s national initiative for sustainable urban development.
The company has initiated pilot deployments of its autonomous vehicles, including Robotaxis, in major Saudi cities such as Riyadh and AlUla. These trials are laying the foundation for future commercial operations, with full-scale services expected to launch in the country by the end of 2025.
To support this effort, WeRide is working closely with the Transport General Authority on the ground in preparation for its Robotaxi rollout. The service will be integrated into the Uber platform in the coming months, offering a glimpse of what everyday autonomous travel could soon look like in Saudi Arabia. The initiative is set to enhance traffic efficiency, boost road safety, and provide eco-friendly transport options across the Kingdom.
Alongside its Robotaxis, WeRide is introducing its autonomous Robobus — a Level-4 driverless shuttle designed to solve last-mile connectivity issues. The Robobus is currently in operation at key locations such as King Fahad Medical City, residential zones managed by Aramco, the historic city of AlUla, and the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh. These shuttles are intended to supplement public transport systems like the Riyadh Metro and are particularly suited for short-distance trips in high-traffic or high-footfall areas like medical campuses, hotels, and tourist sites.
Another key element of WeRide’s Saudi initiative is the deployment of its Robosweeper S1 — an autonomous cleaning vehicle now active at King Fahad Medical City and the Riyadh Second Health Cluster. This project represents the first paid autonomous street-cleaning service in the Middle East. Covering over 500,000 square meters of complex infrastructure and constant activity, the Robosweeper provides a highly efficient solution for large-scale facility sanitation.
WeRide’s activities in Saudi Arabia reflect its broader regional ambitions. Earlier this month, the company launched fully autonomous Robotaxi trials in Abu Dhabi, marking the first driverless testing of its kind in the region. Plans are already in place to extend the service to Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands.
In parallel, WeRide and Uber have expanded their strategic alliance, announcing plans to deploy Robotaxis in 15 more cities worldwide over the next five years. Their partnership began in late 2024 with a historic rollout in Abu Dhabi — the largest public Robotaxi launch outside of China and the U.S. This collaboration extended to Dubai in April 2025, where WeRide’s Robotaxis will soon become available through the Uber app.
With its Saudi debut, WeRide is continuing to build momentum across the Middle East, offering smart mobility solutions that align with the region’s forward-thinking transportation goals.
