The move expands the emirate's growing autonomous transport ecosystem
Abu Dhabi’s driverless transport ambitions are showing no signs of slowing down.
The emirate, which already has autonomous taxis operating on its roads, is now set to welcome another major player to its growing Robotaxi network.
Chinese mobility company CaoCao has announced a new partnership with Abu Dhabi-based AI company K2 to launch its first Robotaxi fleet in the UAE, with local testing and validation expected to begin later this year.
Rather than introducing Robotaxis to Abu Dhabi for the first time, the move expands the emirate’s growing autonomous transport ecosystem, adding another operator to a city that continues to position itself as a global leader in smart mobility.
Under the agreement, K2 will provide local expertise, testing environments and operational infrastructure to support the safe rollout of the new fleet.
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CaoCao, meanwhile, will supply its intelligent Robotaxi vehicles, technical support and operational expertise, helping bring its autonomous driving technology to the UAE market.
The partnership follows CaoCao’s earlier agreement with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and marks another step in the company’s international expansion, with Abu Dhabi serving as its launchpad into the Middle East.
The company recently unveiled its RoboX strategy and China’s first purpose-built Robotaxi, which is expected to enter mass production in 2027.
Looking further ahead, CaoCao plans to deploy 100,000 Robotaxis and a further 100,000 autonomous delivery vehicles globally by 2030.
For Abu Dhabi, it’s another sign of the emirate’s continued investment in artificial intelligence, autonomous transport and future mobility.
While residents are already familiar with driverless taxis in selected areas, CaoCao’s arrival signals that the sector is continuing to grow, with more operators, more technology and potentially more routes on the horizon.
As testing gets underway later this year, Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its reputation as one of the world’s leading testbeds for next-generation transport.
