(Yicai) March 3 -- WeRide, Apollo Go, and Pony.ai, the three leading Chinese developers of autonomous driving technologies, have adjusted their services in the Middle East after US-Israeli military strikes on Iran, halting some robotaxi fleets and allowing employees to work from home.

All of WeRide's robotaxis in Dubai were moved into indoor parking lots, Zhan Liangfei, a local employee of the Guangzhou-based firm, told Yicai. Local staff are working from home to avoid going out unnecessarily, reducing risks from potential attacks and falling debris, Zhan added.

The Dubai WeRide team immediately stockpiled daily necessities after the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, establishing supply links with a local Chinese supermarket, Zhan said, adding that water, electricity, and internet services in Dubai remain normal.

Apollo Go, which is under tech giant Baidu, said it has temporarily suspended self-driving vehicle testing across the United Arab Emirates in coordination with local authorities to ensure transportation safety and operational order. Its autonomous commercial service in Abu Dhabi remains normal.

In addition, Pony.ai previously suspended road testing in Dubai and Doha, but resumed operations in the latter yesterday, the company said, noting it will continue communicating with Dubai regulators and restart testing once safety is confirmed.

The Middle East has long been a top overseas destination for Chinese autonomous driving firms, particularly tourist hubs such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The region's strong policy support, well-adapted infrastructure, lower costs, faster path to profitability, and favorable operating conditions have drawn many to launch local operations.

WeRide has been operating robotaxis in the Middle East since 2021, running a fleet of around 150 cars across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh. Apollo Go launched commercial operations in Abu Dhabi in January, though it has not disclosed its fleet size, while Pony.ai remains at the testing stage.

WeRide's robotaxi fleets in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh continue normal operations, with orders remaining largely stable and ride-hailing and delivery apps being unaffected by the conflict. Although the Dubai fleet was pulled from the road, its local team continues to work on data training and operational optimization.

The Middle East expansion of WeRide and Apollo Go has been closely tied to international ride-hailing platforms. WeRide and Uber plan to deploy at least 1,200 robotaxis across the region by next year and reach tens of thousands by 2030, while Apollo Go is working with UAE autonomous mobility firm AutoGo on fully autonomous commercial operations in Abu Dhabi, planning to launch a ride-hailing service in Dubai alongside Uber this quarter and rapidly expand its local fleet to over 1,000 vehicles.

Editor: Martin Kadiev