Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has enhanced its global partnerships with leading autonomous driving technology firms, including Uber, WeRide, and Baidu’s Apollo Go, to introduce autonomous taxis in Dubai. This collaboration aims to deploy self-driving vehicles on the streets of Dubai as part of the city’s vision for advanced mobility.

As part of their strategic partnership, Uber and WeRide will launch autonomous vehicles (AVs) through the Uber platform. The RTA’s collaboration with Baidu involves utilizing Apollo Go, which is recognized as one of the top providers of self-driving solutions and autonomous ride-hailing services globally. This initiative is integral to RTA’s broader goal of establishing Dubai as a leader in autonomous mobility.

Mattar Al Tayer, the Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, highlighted the importance of these partnerships, stating that they are vital to advancing Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy. This strategy aims to convert 25 percent of all journeys in the city into autonomous trips across various transport modes by 2030. He noted that the deployment of autonomous taxis would enhance the integration of transport systems, particularly improving first and last-mile connectivity for public transport users.

The RTA’s First and Last-Mile Strategy, adopted last year, focuses on facilitating passenger movement from their origin to the nearest public transport station. Al Tayer emphasized that autonomous vehicles can significantly improve road safety, as human error accounts for over 90 percent of traffic accidents. Furthermore, these vehicles will cater to a diverse range of community members, including senior citizens, residents, and people with disabilities.

The trials for autonomous taxis, featuring a safety driver behind the wheel, will begin this year, paving the way for a driverless commercial launch expected in 2026.

Dr. Wang Yunpeng, Corporate Vice President and President of Baidu Intelligent Driving Group, remarked that this partnership with the RTA signifies Apollo Go’s largest international expansion beyond China to date. He emphasized that this collaboration demonstrates Dubai’s commitment to becoming a global hub for innovation in future mobility.

Noah Zych, Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery Operations, expressed excitement about working with the RTA to integrate autonomous vehicles into the Uber platform, starting with WeRide as their technology partner. He noted that Uber is focused on building the future of transportation in collaboration with leading autonomous vehicle developers.

Jennifer Li, Chief Financial Officer and Head of International Business at WeRide, stated that Dubai represents a natural progression in their commitment to enhancing mobility in the Middle East, alongside their global expansion efforts. She believes that their advanced autonomous driving technology combined with Uber’s extensive mobility platform will benefit millions of consumers worldwide.

Baidu’s Apollo Go has already achieved over 150 million kilometers of safe autonomous driving and has initiated fully driverless operations across China since February. Recently, it completed more than 10 million autonomous rides, establishing itself as the world’s largest operator of driverless fleets. Apollo Go’s sixth-generation robotaxi, RT6, has received positive feedback from passengers, highlighting its effectiveness in the ride-hailing market.