WeRide becomes first chinese company to secure UAE license for self-driving vehicles

The permit granted by the UAE allows WeRide to conduct Level 4 autonomous vehicle testing on public roads across the country.

Level 4 is a designation by SAE that means the vehicle can handle all aspects of driving in certain conditions without human intervention.

The Council of Ministers in the UAE approved WeRide's license alongside a national policy for electric vehicles, which includes initiatives such as the establishment of a comprehensive charging network, regulation of the electric vehicle market, and support for related industries like autonomous vehicles.

These efforts are aimed at reducing emissions and preserving road quality.

Dubai, the UAE's most populous city, has become a center for testing autonomous vehicles. The Dubai Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA) actively promotes autonomous driving technology by organizing events such as the World Conference on Self-Driving Transport, and by supporting testing and development of autonomous vehicles.

Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, is among the companies testing autonomous vehicles in Dubai.

WeRide intends to test various types of self-driving vehicles in the UAE and is seeking to commercialize its autonomous technology in various fields, including robotaxis, robobuses, robotbuses and autonomous sweepers. Over the past year, the company has been testing robotaxis on selected public roads in the UAE and has established a presence in the China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone.

While specific details about WeRide's launch plans, target markets, and commercialization strategy remain undisclosed, the company's focus on expanding into the UAE and Saudi Arabia underscores the growing interest in autonomous driving in the Middle East.