Abu Dhabi is set to usher in a new era of smart mobility in 2026 with the launch of a luxury self-driving robotaxi fleet by Lumo, the UAE’s national smart mobility company. The project is being developed in partnership with Mercedes-Benz and Momenta, combining the all-new S-Class platform with Momenta’s L4 autonomous driving technology to create the industry’s first scalable premium robotaxi model. Commercial operations will begin in Abu Dhabi next year, with plans to expand into international markets.
This marks another milestone in the UAE’s rapid advancement in autonomous transport. Abu Dhabi recently became the first city in the MENA region to commence commercial operations of fully driverless vehicles, issuing permits to WeRide and AutoGo-K2 for Level 4 autonomous taxis. Driverless services—currently with safety drivers—are already operating through Uber on Yas Island, Al Maryah Island and Abu Dhabi Airport.
The capital continues to expand its smart mobility ecosystem through initiatives such as TXAI electric/hybrid robotaxis, autonomous pods in Masdar City, and the SAVI cluster for autonomous land, air and sea transport.
Dubai is also advancing driverless mobility, with autonomous taxis set to hit the roads by 2026. Companies including Baidu’s Apollo Go, WeRide and Pony.ai have been granted permits to conduct trials across designated roads in the emirate. Dubai aims to make 25% of all trips smart and driverless by 2030.
