The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai has announced a significant partnership with the American firm Pony.ai to introduce a fleet of robotaxis to the emirate. This initiative marks a pivotal step in enhancing Dubai’s transport options, as the RTA prepares to launch supervised trials of Pony.ai’s self-driving taxis in the latter half of 2025.

Dubai residents can anticipate the arrival of Pony.ai’s advanced fleet of vehicles as early as next year. This upcoming trial follows previous agreements with ride-hailing app Uber and the Chinese company Baidu, both of which are also set to initiate trials of autonomous taxis in Dubai.

Pony.ai is known for collaborating with major industry players such as Toyota, GAC Motor, and BAIC Motor to develop its seventh-generation robotaxis. The mass deployment of these vehicles is expected later this year, following their successful introduction in Shanghai in April. Equipped with an advanced sensor array, the robotaxis are capable of navigating complex scenarios, including high-speed highways and busy urban areas like Dubai’s financial districts.

Ahmed Bahrozyan, the CEO of the Public Transport Agency at RTA, emphasized that this partnership is crucial for achieving the authority’s goal of increasing autonomous transport options in Dubai. He stated that the collaboration with Pony.ai represents a major milestone in advancing Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy. The RTA aims to transform 25 percent of all journeys in the city into autonomous trips by 2030, reinforcing Dubai’s status as a global leader in autonomous mobility and innovation.

Long-term plans for Pony.ai in Dubai include integrating its robotaxi services with the city’s multimodal transport network, which covers metro, tram, and maritime routes. This integration aims to create a system where autonomous vehicles work alongside existing infrastructure, facilitating smoother journeys and reducing the carbon footprint of the city.

Dr. Leo Wang, CFO of Pony.ai, expressed the company’s commitment to supporting Dubai’s transition to self-driving transport. He acknowledged that Dubai is at the forefront of intelligent urban mobility innovation and emphasized their dedication to working with the RTA on this transformative initiative.