Dubai has taken a significant step toward driverless mobility with the launch of Baidu Apollo Go’s Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre, marking the company’s first such facility outside China and reinforcing the emirate’s ambitions in smart transport.
The 2,000 square metre centre was inaugurated on Thursday at Dubai Science Park by Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of the Roads and Transport Authority, and Yunpeng Wang, Corporate Vice President of Baidu and President of its Intelligent Driving Group. The facility will act as a central hub for fleet operations, vehicle maintenance, charging, software updates, and safety testing.
Designed to support large scale autonomous operations, the centre includes simulation and training rooms, as well as dedicated operations and maintenance units. It will oversee daily vehicle management, inspections, and component maintenance, while ensuring rapid response to operational commands and safety requirements.
The opening follows RTA’s decision to grant Baidu Apollo Go Dubai’s first permit allowing fully autonomous vehicle trials on designated public roads without a safety driver behind the wheel. The move builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in March 2025 to enable the rollout of autonomous taxis across the emirate.
Baidu has already conducted trials with 50 autonomous vehicles and plans to expand its Dubai fleet to more than 1,000 vehicles in the coming years. The company aims to launch a commercial autonomous ride hailing service in the first quarter of 2026.
Al Tayer said the initiative underscores Dubai’s leadership in smart mobility and artificial intelligence, while Baidu executives described the milestone as a foundation for delivering safe, efficient, and sustainable autonomous transport in the emirate.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
