Dubai residents and visitors will soon witness self-driving taxis operating on the emirate’s roads. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has forged strategic partnerships with leading autonomous driving technology providers to deploy these revolutionary vehicles by 2026.
The autonomous vehicles will be available through the Uber platform in collaboration with three major technology partners: Uber Technologies, WeRide, and China’s Baidu through its autonomous mobility division, Apollo Go.
Advancing Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, emphasised the significance of these partnerships: “These collaborations mark a vital step in progressing Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to convert 25 per cent of all journeys in the city into autonomous trips across various transport modes by 2030.”
This development is a key component of RTA’s comprehensive plan to establish Dubai as a global leader in autonomous mobility, supporting its vision to become the smartest city and an exceptional place to live and work worldwide.
Improving Public Transport Connectivity and Road Safety
The introduction of autonomous taxis will significantly enhance the integration of transport systems, making it more convenient for passengers to access public transport.
“The implementation of autonomous taxis will improve the first and last-mile connectivity for public transport users,” Al Tayer explained. “This aligns with the First and Last-Mile Strategy adopted by RTA last year, designed to facilitate passenger movement between their starting point or destination and the nearest public transport station.”
Al Tayer also highlighted the safety advantages of autonomous vehicles: “These vehicles contribute to improved road safety, as human error accounts for over 90 per cent of traffic accidents. Additionally, they serve a broad segment of the community—particularly senior citizens, residents, and people of determination.”
Trial Phase Beginning This Year
The testing phase for the autonomous taxi system will commence in 2024. “Uber, starting with WeRide, and Baidu through Apollo Go will begin trials of autonomous taxis in Dubai this year, with a safety driver positioned behind the wheel, in preparation for the driverless commercial launch in 2026,” said Al Tayer.
“The extensive deployment of autonomous vehicles will signify a transformative change in Dubai’s transport landscape and further strengthen RTA’s efforts to enhance network integration by enabling smoother mobility for public transport users.”
International Expansion and Technological Experience
Robin Li, co-founder and CEO of Baidu, described the partnership as Apollo Go’s “largest international expansion beyond China” to date. “We are dedicated to providing safe, sustainable, and efficient services to more regions, collaborating with local partners to deliver meaningful transport solutions that benefit wider communities globally,” he said. “This partnership also demonstrates Dubai’s commitment to establishing itself as a global centre for innovation in future mobility.”
Apollo Go has achieved impressive milestones in autonomous driving, recording over 150 million kilometres of safe operation and supporting large-scale deployment of autonomous ride-hailing services across more than 10 Chinese cities.
Since February 2024, Apollo Go has initiated fully driverless operations throughout China and completed more than 10 million autonomous rides, making it the world’s largest operator of driverless fleets. Its sixth-generation robotaxi RT6, specifically designed for autonomous ride-hailing, has received positive feedback from passengers.
Uber’s Global Autonomous Vision
Noah Zych, Uber’s global head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery Operations, expressed enthusiasm about the project: “We’re excited to work with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority to bring autonomous vehicles onto the Uber platform, starting with our technology partner WeRide.
At Uber, we’re building the future of transportation, working with the world’s leading autonomous vehicle developers to help commercialise and deploy this technology at scale around the world.”
Jennifer Li, chief financial officer and head of International Business at WeRide, added: “Dubai represents a natural progression in our commitment to advancing mobility in the Middle East as well as our continued global expansion.
We believe our advanced autonomous driving technology and operational experience combined with Uber’s powerful global mobility platform will help us serve millions of consumers in cities around the world.”
With these partnerships, Dubai continues to cement its position as a forward-thinking city embracing cutting-edge technology to improve urban mobility and quality of life for its residents and visitors.
This article was published by JobXDubai on April 2, 2025. For more updates on technological advancements and employment opportunities in Dubai, follow our blog.
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