Dubai is set to initiate trials of Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service, known as Apollo. This testing phase will involve 50 driverless taxis and is a precursor to the official rollout slated for 2026.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement these autonomous taxis on a “large scale.” The Apollo Go service will utilize the latest RT6 model, which is specifically designed for autonomous mobility. Each vehicle is equipped with 40 sensors and detectors to ensure the highest standards of automation and safety.

The RTA highlighted that the RT6 model has already seen remarkable success and received widespread acclaim from users in China. The data collection and testing phase will begin with the initial fleet of 50 vehicles in the coming months. Over the next three years, this fleet is expected to expand to 1 000 autonomous taxis.

This launch represents Apollo Go’s first expansion into international markets for testing and operating autonomous vehicles, moving beyond mainland China and Hong Kong. To date, Baidu has recorded over 150 million kilometers of safe driving and has completed more than 10 million autonomous trips, establishing itself as the world’s largest operator of autonomous vehicle fleets.