Abu Dhabi expands its autonomous taxi services to include Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands as part of its push towards AI-powered transport systems.

Abu Dhabi is making strides in the realm of smart transportation by expanding its autonomous taxi services. The Integrated Transport Centre, part of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, has announced an extension of self-driving taxi operations to include Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands. This initiative supports Abu Dhabi's ambition to develop a transport system powered by artificial intelligence, reinforcing its status as a regional leader in smart mobility and innovation. This falls within the broader strategy of Abu Dhabi's Smart Mobility Plan aimed at establishing a sustainable and intelligent transportation environment for residents and visitors alike.

With this expansion, nearly half of Abu Dhabi’s main districts will now benefit from autonomous taxi services. This marks a significant step toward achieving Abu Dhabi's strategic vision to have 25% of all trips rely on smart transportation by 2040.

The service is implemented in collaboration with "WeRide," a company specializing in autonomous driving technology, through platforms like "Uber" and the local operator "Tawseel Transportation." By focusing on Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands-two densely populated hubs with vibrant financial, residential, and commercial sectors-the initiative takes advantage of complex traffic patterns and high vehicle density to showcase WeRide’s advanced capabilities. The move also addresses growing demand for reliable, easily accessible mobility solutions amidst increasing traffic challenges.

This development builds on existing self-driving taxi services available on Saadiyat and Yas Islands, extending to routes leading to Zayed International Airport. Since these services launched on Uber in December 2024, the fleet size has tripled. The Integrated Transport Centre is actively working on further expanding coverage across additional areas within Abu Dhabi Island to provide broader reach and enhance the effectiveness of the smart mobility ecosystem. This lays the groundwork for commercial operation as part of the strategic objectives for smart transformation in transportation.

By integrating AI technologies with sustainable mobility solutions across key sectors, Abu Dhabi solidifies its position as a pioneering model for Middle Eastern cities aspiring towards smart urban development.

Dr. Abdullah Al Ghafli, Acting Director General at the center, emphasized: “This expansion marks a pivotal moment in Abu Dhabi's journey towards realizing its vision for smarter, safer transport systems. Building on our success with previous smart mobility initiatives, we are scaling operations in high-density areas such as Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands to offer more secure and efficient travel experiences aligned with our strategy for innovative sustainable transport solutions.”

It should be noted that Abu Dhabi holds a leading position in smart transport as it was first among cities in the Middle East and North Africa region to commercially operate autonomous vehicles. Currently boasting the largest operational fleet comprising 44 vehicles active across key city locations enhances this leadership stance.