K2 and WeRide Partner to Launch Autonomous Buses in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: K2 and WeRide have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at UMEX 2026 to jointly operate autonomous buses in Abu Dhabi. The initiative is supported by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC) and the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC).

The partnership aims to support Abu Dhabi’s vision for smart mobility by enabling real-world deployment of autonomous public transport. It also strengthens the emirate’s position as a global hub for intelligent and sustainable transportation solutions.

Waleed Alblooshi, Vice President of Strategy at K2, said the cooperation highlights the importance of collaboration in building a future where autonomous technologies operate smoothly and sustainably. He added that K2 will contribute local expertise, fleet management capabilities, and experience in real-world mobility deployments.

Ryan Zhan, Regional General Manager of Middle East and Africa at WeRide, said the MoU marks a new phase of growth for the company in the region. He explained that combining WeRide’s Level 4 autonomous driving technology with K2’s local experience will help accelerate safer and smarter public transport in the UAE and across the Middle East.

K2 has extensive experience in the autonomous mobility sector, with its subsidiaries testing robotaxis and last-mile delivery solutions across tens of thousands of kilometres.