Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, has deployed a Robotaxi pilot fleet, developed by Chinese tech firm WeRide in collaboration with Uber and local partner AiDriver.
WeRide has recently obtained Saudi Arabia’s first Robotaxi autonomous driving permit, which allows it to operate self-driving vehicles business in the Kingdom and deploy Robotaxis across Saudi regions.
Robotaxi in Riyadh
This permit makes WeRide the only tech firm in the world that has autonomous driving permits in six countries: Saudi Arabia, China, the UAE, Singapore, France, and the US.
On July 23, 2025, the Chinese company, in cooperation with Uber and AiDrive, launched its pilot operations across key locations in Riyadh, including at King Khalid International Airport, major highways and selected city center hubs.
The Robotaxi service will have designated pick-up and drop-off stations to streamline travel to and from the airport. It will boost transport efficiency, sustainability, and safety across Riyadh, easing traffic congestion in the Saudi capital.
The Robotaxi is set to expand into full-scale commercial service by the end of 2025.
WeRide is the first company to get a permit for its Robotaxi in Saudi Arabia, after completing a rigorous approval process, including testing, assessments, and technology validation, to meet the highest safety and performance standards set by the Kingdom’s Transport General Authority (TGA).
Major Milestone
The tech company received the permit during an official ceremony, with the participation of the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the TGA, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, and CFO and Head of International at WeRide, Jennifer Li, alongside other Saudi senior officials.
On this occasion, Li said: “This permit marks a major step in our global expansion, enabling us to scale Robotaxi services and unlock new commercial opportunities in Saudi Arabia.”
Meanwhile, the Saudi Transport Minister hailed the initiative. “The pilot launch of autonomous taxi services reflects the kingdom’s forward-looking vision and strategic investment in future mobility,” he said.
“This step reinforces our commitment to fostering innovation, enabling cutting-edge technologies, and creating a globally competitive, efficient, and sustainable transport sector that supports economic growth and enhances the quality of life for all,” Al-Jasser added.
WeRide Services in Saudi Arabia
In addition to Robotaxi, WeRide, which entered Saudi Arabia in May 2025, has been testing and operating Robobus service in key locations, such as King Fahad Medical City, Aramco residential communities, AlUla, and the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh.
It is also operating Robosweeper S1 at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh Second Health Cluster, marking the first paid autonomous sanitation project in both Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.
