Dubai has taken a decisive step toward autonomous mobility as Dubai Taxi Company partners with Baidu Inc. to roll out driverless commercial taxis through the Apollo Go app, marking the platform’s first international deployment.
The service, powered by Apollo Go, combines Baidu’s autonomous driving technology with Dubai Taxi Company’s operational scale and local expertise. Residents and visitors can book rides via the app, with integration into other e-hailing platforms planned as the rollout expands.
The initial phase will introduce 50 driverless vehicles, with a roadmap to scale the fleet to more than 1,000 units over the coming years. The initiative supports Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which targets converting 25 percent of all trips into autonomous journeys by 2030.
Officials say the launch follows successful trials demonstrating safety, reliability, and efficiency. In January 2026, Apollo Go secured Dubai’s first permit for fully autonomous vehicles without a safety driver, a regulatory milestone enabling commercial deployment.
The same month, Baidu established its Apollo Go Park in Dubai, its first overseas operations hub, reinforcing the emirate’s role as a global testbed for next-generation mobility.
With a fleet exceeding 6,000 taxis and limousines, Dubai Taxi Company is positioned to lead large-scale autonomous operations, supported by advanced monitoring systems and data-driven processes aimed at ensuring safe and seamless journeys.
Globally, Apollo Go has completed over 20 million rides and logged more than 300 million autonomous kilometres, underscoring the scale and maturity of the technology now entering Dubai’s transport network.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
