News

WeRide Granted First Self-Driving Vehicle License In UAE

The Chinese autonomous driving company may soon deploy robotaxis and robobusses across the Emirates and beyond.

Published

3 years ago

July 10, 2023

Nour Nasir

WeRide

Chinese autonomous driving startup WeRide was the first company in the world to hold driverless permits for testing in both China and the USA. Now, the autonomous technologies experts have secured a license to deploy self-driving vehicles in the UAE, having already completed public testing on some routes within the Emirate.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the news on Twitter: “We approved the first national license for self-driving vehicles on the country’s roads, which was granted to a specialized WeRide company”.

Dubai aims to make 25% of its transportation completely autonomous by 2030, so the permit comes at an ideal time. Last month, as part of the Eid al-Adha holiday services, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of Abu Dhabi announced that visitors to Saadiyat and Yas Islands could experience free autonomous driving car rides, including a vehicle called “TXAI”, which was launched by WeRide in partnership with a local company Bayanat.

Also Read: UAE’s du Teams With Huawei For Net-Zero Telecom Services

WeRide has developed its state-of-the-art technologies through WeRide One, which the company describes as a “one-for-all and all-for-one platform for urban autonomous driving applications. Designed with high flexibility on both the software and hardware levels”. The platform uses self-evolving deep learning systems to prioritize safety, plus AI algorithms and a fusion of camera, LiDAR, and radar to replace human operators.

In a recent press release WeRide said, “In the future, WeRide will continue to deepen its presence in the Middle East region and bring high-quality autonomous driving technology, products, and services to more customers and consumers”.

Related Topics:Automotive United Arab Emirates WeRide

Up Next

Dubai’s Sheikh Hamdan Launches New Digital Cloud Project

Don't Miss

Revibe Has Raised $2.3 Million For Planned MENA Expansion

Click to comment

News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.