Driverless Robotaxis Hit Dubai Streets as Uber and Baidu Launch Apollo Go

Dubai issued its first official permit for driverless public testing without human safety drivers earlier this year. Today, those driverless vehicles carry paying passengers across city streets.

Credit: Uber / Press Release

Uber Technologies and Chinese technology firm Baidu launched fully autonomous Apollo Go robotaxis on the Uber platform in Dubai. This deployment serves as the first commercial rollout under a global partnership signed by the two companies.

Passengers requesting UberX or Uber Comfort options in covered zones can receive matches with fully driverless vehicles. Customers can also select a dedicated "Autonomous" option in the Uber app to request an automated ride directly.

Initial operations cover designated routes in the coastal districts of Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah. Local operator New Horizon Luxury Transport manages fleet maintenance and daily ground management.

The service deploys Baidu’s sixth-generation RT6 electric vehicle, designed specifically for driverless passenger trips. Each vehicle holds up to three passengers and carries over 30 onboard sensors for real-time environmental perception.

Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous at Uber, stated:

"Bringing our partnership with Baidu to life is a major step forward as we expand autonomous mobility globally."

Maredia added:

"Launching in Dubai marks the first time our multi-partner vision comes to life on public roads, demonstrating how combining advanced autonomous technology with our global marketplace can accelerate an electric, shared, and autonomous future."

The rollout positions Dubai as the first market outside China where Baidu runs a dual operational model. Riders in Dubai can access Apollo Go vehicles through Baidu’s standalone application or through Uber's dispatch system.

Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of Overseas Business Unit at Intelligent Driving Group, stated:

"This launch marks a meaningful milestone in our partnership with Uber, with Dubai serving as the launchpad as the partnership grows its footprint."

Yang added:

"Dubai is also the first city where we've successfully established a dual-model offering both self-operated and partner-based autonomous ride-hailing services internationally. With this launch, we are excited to offer another way for riders in Dubai to enjoy the benefits of autonomous mobility."

Baidu operates Apollo Go across 28 cities globally. Company data shows its fleets completed over 350 million autonomous kilometers, including more than 240 million kilometers without human drivers on board.

Uber currently works with more than 30 autonomous vehicle partners across different regions. The platform blends automated vehicles with human drivers into a single dispatch network.

All autonomous vehicles must pass Uber's internal safety checks before serving passengers. Uber and Baidu plan to scale thousands of Apollo Go vehicles across multiple international markets in future expansion phases.