Abu dhabi: K2 and WeRide have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding at UMEX 2026 to jointly operate autonomous buses in Abu Dhabi, with support from the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC) and the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC).

According to Emirates News Agency, this partnership aligns with Abu Dhabi’s vision to enhance smart mobility, facilitating the real-world deployment of autonomous public transport and reinforcing the emirate’s status as a global leader in intelligent and sustainable transportation solutions.

Waleed Alblooshi, Vice President of Strategy at K2, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, describing it as a vital step towards a future where autonomous technologies function seamlessly and sustainably. He highlighted K2’s local expertise and fleet management capabilities, complemented by WeRide’s global autonomous vehicle (AV) expertise and extensive deployment experience.

Ryan Zhan, Regional General Manager of Middle East and Africa at WeRide, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with K2, marking a new phase of growth. He noted that by integrating WeRide’s Level 4 autonomous driving technology with K2’s local expertise, the initiative aims to accelerate the development of safer, smarter, and more sustainable autonomous public transport solutions across the UAE and the broader Middle East.

K2’s subsidiaries have a robust track record in the autonomous ecosystem, having tested robotaxis and last-mile delivery solutions over tens of thousands of kilometers, further bolstering the company’s capabilities in this joint venture.