50 self-driving taxis to hit Dubai roads: Here’s what to expect

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to begin the experimental operation of 50 autonomous vehicles in the coming months, paving the way for the official public launch of the service in 2026.

According to a WAM report, the RTA has partnered with Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service, Apollo Go—a global leader in autonomous transport solutions—to roll out driverless taxis on a large scale across the emirate.

Read-Dubai speeds up autonomous taxi rollout plans with global tie-ups

The MoU was signed during a ceremony attended by Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA, and Halton Niu, General Manager of Overseas Business at Baidu’s Intelligent Driving Group (IDG).

On behalf of the RTA, the MoU was signed by Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency, while Liang Zhang, General Manager of Overseas Business, MENA, Baidu Intelligent Driving Group, signed on behalf of Baidu. Several representatives from both parties were also present.

Experimental operation

The trial phase will begin with 50 autonomous vehicles in the coming months, setting the stage for the public launch in 2026.

Under the MoU, Apollo Go will deploy the sixth—and latest—generation of its RT6 autonomous taxis, specifically designed for driverless mobility services.

These vehicles feature 40 sensors and detectors to ensure the highest standards of automation and safety. The RT6 model has already achieved significant success and received widespread acclaim from users in China.

The data collection and testing phase will start with 50 vehicles and gradually expand to 1,000 autonomous taxis over the next three years, based on established efficiency and service quality standards.

Apollo Go’s first international expansion

This initiative marks Apollo Go’s first international venture outside mainland China and Hong Kong in testing and operating autonomous vehicles.

To date, Apollo Go has logged over 150 million kilometres of safe driving, supporting large-scale driverless taxi services across multiple cities in China. The company has completed more than 10 million autonomous trips, making it the world’s largest operator of autonomous vehicle fleets.

Al Tayer expressed his satisfaction with the agreement, highlighting Apollo Go as a pioneer of China’s first autonomous taxi service and a leader in integrating artificial intelligence, big data, and automation to shape the smart cities of the future.

“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 advanced and sustainable transport solutions. It aims to leverage cutting-edge technologies and promote innovative mobility solutions,” said Al Tayer.

He added that the agreement marks a pivotal step in realizing Dubai’s Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to make 25 percent of all trips in Dubai autonomous by 2030. This builds on the RTA’s ongoing efforts in autonomous vehicle trials, which began in 2016.

RTA’s role in advancing autonomous mobility

Self-driving transport is becoming a global reality, with leading companies accelerating the development of enabling technologies and software.

Governments and relevant authorities are simultaneously working on licensing frameworks, infrastructure, and regulatory guidelines for autonomous vehicle operations.

RTA is committed to reinforcing Dubai’s global leadership in autonomous mobility through the testing of various autonomous vehicles, including air taxis and marine transport, in line with its Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy.

“The collaboration with RTA not only reflects Dubai’s proactive embrace of innovative technology, but also supports the UAE’s ambition to lead in autonomous driving,” said Halton Niu. “Apollo Go is committed to delivering safe, sustainable, and efficient smart mobility services globally.”

Liang Zhang, General Manager of Overseas Business, MENA, at Baidu IDG, added, “Our partnership with RTA marks Apollo Go’s most significant international expansion to date. This collaboration demonstrates Dubai’s strong commitment to next-generation mobility innovation.”

Ahmed Bahrozyan emphasised the societal benefits of self-driving transport, including greater accessibility for children, the elderly, and those unable to drive, while improving road safety and saving time.

“The MoU with Apollo Go is crucial for strengthening cooperation and knowledge-sharing to develop autonomous driving technologies in Dubai,” he said. “This will be achieved through field trials and a roadmap for deploying autonomous taxis.”