Dubai Partners with Uber & Baidu for Autonomous Taxis

Photo: Dubai Government Media Office

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is working with top companies in self-driving technology to introduce autonomous taxis in the city. This big step forward includes partnerships with Uber and WeRide, along with Baidu’s Apollo Go, which is one of the leading providers of self-driving taxis in the world.

This project is part of Dubai’s plan to become a global leader in smart transportation. The goal is to make Dubai one of the best cities to live and work in by using advanced technology.

RTA’s Vision for the Future

The Director General and Chairman of RTA, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, said that these partnerships with Uber, WeRide, and Baidu are important in making Dubai’s transportation smarter. Dubai wants 25% of all trips in the city to be done by self-driving vehicles by 2030.

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Since 2016, RTA has been testing different kinds of self-driving vehicles, and now they are expanding these trials. The new autonomous taxis will help reduce traffic accidents, as human error causes more than 90% of crashes.

How This Will Help Passengers

Al Tayer also said that Dubai was chosen as an international hub for self-driving technology. The goal is to improve public transport by making it easier for people to travel from their homes to metro stations and bus stops.

Autonomous taxis will help people who need safe and easy transportation, including senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. The plan will also improve road safety and make travel more efficient.

When Will the Self-Driving Taxis Start?

Uber and WeRide, along with Baidu’s Apollo Go, will start testing their autonomous taxis in Dubai this year. At first, a safety driver will be present in the car. By 2026, Dubai plans to have fully driverless taxis available for public use. This will completely change the city’s transport system, making travel smoother and more efficient.

What Baidu Says About This Partnership

Dr. Wang Yunpeng, a senior executive at Baidu, said that this is the biggest expansion of Apollo Go outside China. He believes this partnership proves that Dubai is serious about becoming a leader in future transportation. Baidu aims to provide safe and efficient transport services to help communities around the world.

Apollo Go has already completed over 150 million kilometers of safe autonomous driving in China. In 2024, it started fully driverless operations and has completed more than 10 million trips, making it the largest driverless taxi service globally.

Uber’s Plan for Autonomous Taxis

Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, Noah Zych, said that the company is excited to bring self-driving cars to Dubai. By partnering with WeRide, Uber wants to expand its use of autonomous vehicles worldwide.

Jennifer Li, the Chief Financial Officer of WeRide, said that Dubai is an important step in their journey to improve transportation in the Middle East. She believes that combining WeRide’s self-driving technology with Uber’s global platform will help serve millions of people worldwide.

About the Companies Involved

Uber: Uber started in 2010 to provide easy transportation through an app. Today, it has completed over 58 billion trips and continues to innovate in ride-sharing food delivery, and mobility solutions.

WeRide: WeRide is one of the top companies in self-driving technology. It is the first publicly listed Robotaxi company and has received global recognition for its work in autonomous driving.

Baidu & Apollo Go: Baidu is a leading AI company, known for its advancements in technology. Its autonomous taxi service, Apollo Go, is one of the biggest self-driving ride services in the world, with operations in over 10 Chinese cities.

With this new initiative, Dubai is moving closer to a future where self-driving taxis will make transportation safer, smarter, and more accessible for everyone.