Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced that the United Arab Emirates has granted a national license to WeRide that will enable the China-based autonomous driving company to test its vehicles on the country’s roads. This is the first nationwide license awarded by the Gulf state.
“Today, in the Council of Ministers, we approved the national policy for electric vehicles, which includes building a national network for electric vehicle chargers, regulating the electric vehicle market, and stimulating related industries to ensure reduced emissions, energy consumption, and the preservation of the quality of roads that the UAE enjoys. We also approved today, within the Council of Ministers, the first national license for self-driving vehicles on the country’s roads, which was granted to the specialized WeRide company,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
Headquartered in Guangzhou, China, WeRide develops Level 4 autonomous driving technologies, and to date the company has established AD research and development, tests and operations in more than 26 cities globally.