Dubai, April 22, 2025 – The introduction of driverless taxis in Dubai a partnership with Baidu promises to take Dubai a bold step forward into the future of transportation. This project will see the testing of 50 Baidu autonomous cabs from Apollo Go service on Dubai roads in the near future. Eventually, a full driverless taxi service would be established by 2026 as part of a bigger plan to expand the fleet to 1,000 vehicles in the years to come.
Dubai’s Ambitious Plan for Driverless Taxis
Dubai has always been a city where technology blossoms. It has proved its innovation by introducing driverless taxis in Dubai. RTA is in the process of placing an MOU with Baidu, one of the leaders in autonomous driving, to get these vehicles onto Dubai roads.
The first phase will see operating 50 driverless taxis provided by Baidu’s advanced RT6 model in Dubai. The vehicle comes with 40 sensors and detectors that keep it safe, even within the busiest city streets. The RT6 model has already been tested in China and has conducted millions of safe rides.
The idea in Dubai is to make 25% of all trips in the city autonomous by 2030. Direct involvement of driverless taxis in Dubai will be very much part of the agenda, making transport really easy for everyone, especially those who cannot drive, like children, old people, and those with disabilities.
Benefits and Features of Driverless Taxis in Dubai
Driverless taxis will serve the citizens and tourists of Dubai in several ways:
- Safety: Using state-of-the-art technologies including cameras, Lidar, and other sensors, the RT6 taxis easily detect obstacles that may cause accidents and avoid casualty.
- Accessibility: The introduction of driverless taxis in Dubai will ensure mobility for the elderly and handicapped.
- Efficiency: These taxis can choose the fastest routes and will keep moving at a constant speed to help alleviate traffic conditions.
- Sustainability: Encouraging carpooling and reducing the number of vehicles on the road, driverless taxis in Dubai will minimize emissions and support the city’s green targets.
With the world’s largest autonomous taxi operation, Apollo Go, Baidu has safely completed over 10 million autonomous trips for over 150 million kilometers across China. Bringing that experience to the city is a significant step for both Baidu and the city.
What to Expect Next for Driverless Taxis in Dubai?
Expected by the end of the year, testing of the driverless taxis in Dubai is expected to commence. By now, the City would observe the performance of the experiment with the 50 vehicles. The collected data and feedback will be received by the RTA to cater for safety and reliability of the service.
The city anticipates a successful result from the trials which would intensify the numbers that will come into play during the deployment of driverless taxis in Dubai. It is expected there will be a thousand autonomous taxis working in the city by the year 2026, thus crowning Dubai as the leading city worldwide in smart and safe transportation.
This RTA-Baidu partnership shows how cities can partner with tech companies to solve transport issues better. This is in line with Dubai’s aspiration to become a world leader in smart and safe transport.
Points at a Glance
- Dubai is set to start testing Baidu Apollo Go service 50 driverless taxis in 2025.
- Plans for a full public rollout in 2026-with an aim in mind for about a thousand autonomous taxis- are underway.
- The RT6 taxis are cutting-edge concerning sensors and safety for the streets of Dubai.
- The project supports Dubai’s strategy to automate 25% of all journeys by 2030.
- Baidu Apollo Go is the world’s largest autonomous taxi operator with great success stories from China.
The deployment of driverless taxis will reconfigure mobility in Dubai. The smooth marriage of Baidu’s technology with Dubai’s vision has positioned the city as an international leader in driverless technologies. The service will provide passengers with a safe, smart, and secure traveling experience.
Also Read: Dubai: All Companies Need to Embrace AI, Says Minister Al Olama at Dubai AI Week 2025
