Dubai has taken a significant step towards its smart mobility ambitions with the launch of fully driverless commercial taxi services, introduced through a partnership between Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) and Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing platform, Apollo Go.
The service, now available via the Apollo Go app, marks the platform’s first international deployment and signals a major milestone for driverless transport in the region. Residents and visitors can book rides through the app, with plans to expand availability to other e-hailing platforms, including Bolt, as the rollout progresses.
The initiative brings together Apollo Go’s autonomous driving technology and DTC’s extensive operational experience as Dubai’s largest taxi and limousine operator. The move also aligns with the emirate’s Self Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to convert 25% of all journeys into smart and driverless trips by 2030.
The rollout will begin with 50 vehicles in its first year, with a phased expansion set to grow the fleet to more than 1,000 driverless taxis over the coming years.
Expansion plans and strategic ambitions
Officials say the partnership is designed to set a new benchmark for autonomous mobility in the region.
“Our partnership with DTC represents a new chapter for autonomous mobility in Dubai. By combining our cutting-edge technology with DTC’s local expertise, and through the launch of the Apollo Go app, our first international app deployment, we are creating a safe, efficient and scalable ride-hailing service that sets a new standard for the region. We are proud to contribute to Dubai’s vision for smart, future-ready transportation,” said Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of Overseas Business Unit, Intelligent Driving Group.
DTC’s leadership described the launch as a key milestone in advancing Dubai’s long-term transport vision, highlighting the role of innovation in enhancing customer experience.
Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi, Group CEO, DTC said, “Dubai Taxi Company is proud and excited to be among the first entities to roll out the operations of driverless taxis in Dubai, marking a significant milestone in advancing the emirate’s vision for smart and sustainable mobility. This initiative is in line with DTC’s innovation-driven strategy and its commitment to delivering future-ready services that elevate the customer experience. We are grateful to our strategic partner, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), for their unwavering support and the development of a comprehensive infrastructure that enables the seamless deployment of driverless taxis, aligned with the ambition of transforming 25% of all transportation trips into smart and driverless journeys by 2030.”
Trials, infrastructure and global growth
The company added that recent trials had demonstrated the readiness of the technology for large-scale deployment.
“We are equally proud to partner with Baidu Inc. to bring this future-forward technology to life, combining global innovation with Dubai’s pioneering spirit. The successful trials conducted over the past few months have demonstrated the vehicles’ readiness, particularly in terms of safety, reliability, and operational efficiency, reinforcing our confidence in scaling this initiative,” he added.
The commercial launch follows earlier regulatory and infrastructure milestones. In January 2026, Apollo Go secured Dubai’s first permit for testing fully autonomous vehicles without a safety driver. In the same month, Baidu opened Apollo Go Park in Dubai, its first overseas operations hub, which will support the planned fleet expansion.
With more than 6,000 vehicles and over 30 years of experience, DTC is expected to play a central role in managing the service. The company will use advanced monitoring systems and data-driven operations to ensure safety and reliability.
Globally, Apollo Go has completed more than 20 million rides as of February 2026, with its autonomous fleet covering over 300 million kilometres, including more than 190 million kilometres of fully driverless journeys.
