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Following recent US-Israeli military strikes on Iran, the three leading autonomous vehicle developers in China—WeRide, Apollo Go, and Pony.ai—have temporarily adjusted their services in the Middle East. Some robotaxi fleets have been halted, and employees are working remotely to mitigate risks.
All of WeRide’s robotaxis in Dubai have been parked indoors, according to a local employee. Staff members are now working from home to avoid unnecessary outings, reducing exposure to potential threats and debris. The company also preemptively stocked up on essentials after the strikes on February 28, establishing supply connections with a nearby Chinese supermarket. Despite these disruptions, water, electricity, and internet services in Dubai remain stable.
Apollo Go, a subsidiary of a major tech company, has paused automatic vehicle testing throughout the UAE in cooperation with local authorities to ensure safety and operational stability. However, its commercial autonomous ride service in Abu Dhabi continues as usual.
Pony.ai had previously halted road testing in Dubai and Doha but resumed operations in Doha yesterday. The company stated it will keep engaging with Dubai regulators and restart testing once safety is confirmed.
The Middle East has long been a strategic market for Chinese autonomous driving companies, especially in tourist hotspots like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The region offers favorable policies, mature infrastructure, lower operating costs, and quicker paths to profitability, attracting many companies to establish local operations.
Since 2021, WeRide has operated a fleet of around 150 robotaxis across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh. Apollo Go launched commercial services in Abu Dhabi earlier this year but has not disclosed its fleet size. Pony.ai remains in the testing phase.
Operations in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh are continuing normally for WeRide, with stable demand and unaffected ride-hailing and delivery services despite regional tensions. Although Dubai’s fleet has been temporarily pulled from service, the local team continues data training and operational improvements.
The expansion into the Middle East has been closely linked to international ride-hailing partnerships. WeRide and Uber aim to deploy at least 1,200 robotaxis in the region by next year, with aspirations of reaching tens of thousands by 2030. Meanwhile, Apollo Go is partnering with UAE-based auto mobility firm AutoGo on fully autonomous commercial services in Abu Dhabi, planning to launch a ride-hailing service in Dubai with Uber this quarter and rapidly grow its fleet to over 1,000 vehicles.
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