Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has formed key partnerships with leading autonomous driving technology providers to launch autonomous taxis in the city, marking a significant milestone in Dubai’s push to become a global leader in autonomous mobility. The new initiative includes collaborations with Uber Technologies, WeRide, and Baidu’s Apollo Go, all of whom will introduce autonomous vehicles (AVs) to Dubai through the Uber platform.
This initiative aligns with the RTA’s broader vision to establish Dubai as the world’s smartest city, while transforming its transportation system.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of RTA, emphasized the significance of these partnerships, stating, “These two partnerships with Uber, starting with WeRide as the technology partner and Baidu (Apollo Go) represent a crucial step in advancing Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to transform 25% of all journeys in the city into autonomous trips across various transport modes by 2030. These collaborations highlight RTA’s commitment to engaging with global technology leaders and forms part of a series of autonomous mobility trials launched in 2016, which have grown in diversity over the past years.”
Improving Connectivity and Road Safety
Al Tayer further expressed his satisfaction with both Uber and Baidu’s decision to expand their autonomous operations beyond their home markets, choosing Dubai as their international hub. The deployment of autonomous taxis will enhance first and last-mile connectivity, complementing Dubai’s public transport systems. “This aligns with the First and Last-Mile Strategy adopted by RTA last year, which aims to facilitate passenger movement between their point of origin or destination and the nearest public transport station,” Al Tayer noted.
In addition to improving connectivity, autonomous vehicles are expected to increase road safety, as human error is responsible for over 90% of traffic accidents. Al Tayer also highlighted the broad benefits of autonomous taxis, particularly for senior citizens, residents, and people of determination, ensuring greater accessibility and inclusion for all members of the community.
Trial Launches Leading to Full-Scale Operations
Starting this year, trials of autonomous taxis, featuring safety drivers behind the wheel, will be conducted in Dubai in preparation for the commercial launch of fully driverless taxis in 2026. This trial phase will be pivotal in testing the technology and ensuring a smooth transition to a driverless future. Al Tayer added, “The broader rollout of autonomous vehicles will mark a transformative shift in Dubai’s transport landscape and further strengthen RTA’s efforts to enhance network integration by facilitating smoother mobility for public transport users.”
Global Expansion with Baidu and Uber
Dr. Wang Yunpeng, Baidu Corporate Vice President and President of Baidu’s Intelligent Driving Group, expressed excitement about the partnership, calling it Apollo Go’s biggest international expansion beyond China. “This ambitious partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai represents Apollo Go’s biggest international expansion beyond China thus far. It also highlights Dubai’s commitment to positioning itself as a global hub for innovation in future mobility. We are committed to delivering safe, sustainable, and efficient services to more regions, working alongside local partners to provide meaningful transport solutions that benefit broader communities around the world,” he said.
Noah Zych, Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery Operations, also welcomed the collaboration, saying, “We’re thrilled to be working with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority to bring autonomous vehicles onto the Uber platform, starting with our technology partner WeRide. At Uber, we’re building the future of transportation, working with the world’s leading autonomous vehicle developers to help commercialize and deploy this technology at scale around the world.”
WeRide’s Role in Expansion
Jennifer Li, Chief Financial Officer and Head of International Business at WeRide, highlighted the significance of Dubai in the company’s global expansion. “Dubai marks a natural step forward in our commitment to advancing mobility in the Middle East as well as our continued global expansion. We believe our advanced autonomous driving technology and operational experience, combined with Uber’s powerful global mobility platform, will help us serve millions of consumers in cities around the world,” she stated.
A Global Leader in Autonomous Rides
Apollo Go has already achieved remarkable success, with over 150 million kilometers of safe autonomous driving and the deployment of autonomous ride-hailing services across more than 10 cities in China. In February, Apollo Go launched fully driverless operations in China and has completed more than 10 million autonomous rides. The company’s sixth-generation robotaxi, the RT6, designed specifically for autonomous ride-hailing, has been widely embraced by passengers and is set to expand its global presence.
Dubai’s entry into autonomous taxis with such esteemed global partners marks a major step toward shaping the future of transportation, setting the stage for a driverless revolution that will enhance mobility and connectivity in the city and beyond.
