Dubai: Dubai RTA has signed an MoU with Baidu’s Apollo Go, an autonomous ride-hailing service, to launch driverless taxis across the emirate. Even though the official and extensive launch of Dubai autonomous taxis is scheduled for 2026, the robotaxi service-providing company will start driverless taxi trials in the coming months.
One of the world’s largest providers of robotaxi services, Baidu Apollo Go, will deploy RT6 taxis, the latest generation of robotaxis, specifically engineered for autonomous mobility services. RT6 taxis feature 40 sensors and detectors that guarantee fulfillment of the utmost automation and safety standards. After achieving incredible success and wide recognition from Chinese users, RT6 is highly anticipated to receive approval from Dubai users.
Dubai to Enhance Mobility with Baidu’s Apollo Go 1,000 Autonomous Taxis
Dubai RTA has announced that the field information gathering and trial phase of Baidu Apollo Go self-driving taxis will start over the next few months. The authority further confirmed that the trial phase will start with 50 taxis, and their number will gradually expand to 1,000 in the next three years. With the Dubai autonomous taxi launch, Apollo Go is all set to secure its first international expansion in testing and operation of the robotaxis outside mainland China and Hong Kong.
Apollo Go has an established reputation as one of the largest operators of self-driving vehicle fleets, having completed over 10 million autonomous journeys. The company has successfully recorded over 50 kilometers of safe driving up to now.
Dubai RTA & Baidu’s Apollo Go: Global Partnership
RTA’s Director General Mattar Al Tayer said that after months of testing, the dream of advancing mobility with autonomous technology is now a reality for them. With a grand strategic aim to transform 25% of all trips in Dubai into self-driving journeys in the next 5 years, the RTA has been running trials of driverless vehicles for the past 9 years.
He further said, with a commitment to solidify Dubai’s position as a leader in autonomous mobility, the authority has been conducting trials of diverse autonomous vehicles, from air taxis to marine transport. At the beginning of this month, Dubai RTA partnered with Uber Technologies and WeRide to launch self-driving vehicles in the emirate via the Uber platform. Additionally, the Dubai Taxi Company has planned to launch driverless taxi services across the city in 2026.
WeRide and Uber previously launched a commercial autonomous taxi service in the UAE’s capital city in 2024. Under Abu Dhabi’s plan to launch a new transport system, commuters can commute from Saadiyat and Yas Island to the capital city’s Zayed International Airport for free using robotaxi services. Currently, they are in the pilot phase and are being operated at Level 4 autonomy within designated geo-fenced areas with a safety operator.
RTA’s CEO, Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, has said that Dubai autonomous taxis will provide freedom to commute to those who are unable to drive, like children and the elderly. He further said that the latest driverless vehicles will save a lot of time and effort for commuters while improving road safety. He added that the advanced self-driving mobility solutions are the future of transportation and will become an essential part of everyday life, transforming the way people commute at present.
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