UAE - Mubasher: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service Apollo Go to launch autonomous taxis on a large scale across the emirate.
The company will begin the experimental operation of 50 autonomous taxis in the coming months, while the official public launch of the service will be in 2026, according to Emirates News Agency (WAM).
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), commented: “This MoU aligns with the directives of our leadership to strengthen partnerships with global entities and leading companies, positioning the emirate at the forefront of implementing advanced and sustainable transport solutions.”
“The MoU marks a pivotal step towards the realisation of Dubai’s Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to convert 25% of all trips in Dubai into autonomous journeys across various modes of transport by 2030,” Al Tayer mentioned.
He noted: “It also builds on the RTA’s ongoing efforts to conduct operational trials of autonomous vehicles and units, a process that commenced in 2016.”
Al Tayer added: “Simultaneously, governments, represented by the relevant authorities, are focusing on licensing autonomous vehicle operations, developing the required infrastructure, and establishing the rules and regulations that govern their use.”
“RTA is committed to enhancing Dubai’s global leadership in autonomous mobility by trialling various types of autonomous vehicles, air taxis, and marine transport, with the ultimate goal of achieving the objectives of Dubai’s Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy,” the Chairman stated.
The vehicles are equipped with 40 sensors and detectors to ensure the highest standards of automation and safety. This launch marks Apollo Go's first global expansion in the testing and operation of autonomous vehicles outside the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong.
The company has logged more than 150 million kilometres of safe driving to date, enabling large-scale self-driving taxi services across multiple cities in Chin50a. It has also completed more than 10 million autonomous trips, making it the world’s largest operator of autonomous vehicle fleets.
Liang Zhang, General Manager of Overseas Business, MENA, Baidu IDG, stated, “Our partnership with RTA marks Apollo Go’s most significant international expansion beyond China to date. This collaboration underscores Dubai’s unwavering commitment to establishing itself as a global leader in next-generation mobility innovation.”
