Uber’s driverless taxi takes a confident first step in Abu Dhabi

The vehicle now moves through city traffic without a driver, operator or any visible safety fallback that usually accompanies such trials. Those first journeys carried only passengers, and Uber, working with Chinese technology firm WeRide, described the launch as its first entirely human free service outside the United States and anywhere in the Middle East. The debut carries a clear technological charge and a faint geopolitical aftertaste.

The fleet relies on WeRide’s autonomous platform and uses a modified version of a Geely minibus. Similar vehicles already circulate in China, where WeRide also runs them day to day. They operate at Level 4 autonomy, which means the system handles driving without the need for a watchful human behind the wheel. Even so, the cabin still includes a steering wheel and pedals. Regulators can be unpredictable, and surprises on the road rarely send advance notice. The familiar front passenger seat has vanished, replaced by a luggage space that feels oddly suited to the current era of practical robotics.

This is not a fleet that relies on software alone. Each vehicle carries more than twenty sensors, including lidar units that sweep the surroundings with the persistence of a tireless guard. The combination allows the robotaxis to read traffic in real time and make the sort of layered decisions that would prompt most human drivers to pause and sigh before moving on.

Passengers can order the service through several fare categories. The app also offers an Autonomous option. Activate it and the chances increase that a driverless pod will glide to the kerb. For now the service runs only on Yas Island, a favourite for visitors and a contained environment for testing, but Uber and WeRide intend to stretch operations across a broader network.

European cities have waited years for fully autonomous taxis. The conversation rarely escapes the test lab. Abu Dhabi’s confident launch may encourage European authorities to quicken their pace. The road to that future will not be straight, yet this small fleet in the Gulf suggests the traffic is finally moving.