Dubai to Test 50 Autonomous Taxis as Part of Global Rollout

Photo: Instagram

Dubai is getting ready to start test drives with 50 driverless taxis on its roads in the coming months. This is part of a big plan to build one of the world’s largest self-driving transport systems.

This exciting project comes from a new agreement between Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Apollo Go — a company that runs driverless ride services and is part of China’s famous tech company, Baidu.

First Test for Dubai’s Self-Driving Cars

Under this plan, Dubai wants to launch 1,000 driverless taxis by 2026. This will be the first time this technology is used outside of China and Hong Kong.

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The deal, signed this week, allows Baidu to bring its newest self-driving car, called the RT6, to Dubai. The project will start with 50 cars for testing this year. If the tests go well, the full taxi service will begin in 2026.

These RT6 robotaxis come with 40 high-tech sensors to make sure they drive safely and accurately. In China, they’ve already driven over 150 million kilometers without problems and completed more than 10 million rides. Apollo Go is now the largest company in the world to operate self-driving cars.

Moving Towards a Smarter Dubai

The signing ceremony was attended by top leaders, including Mattar Al Tayer from Dubai’s RTA and Halton Niu from Baidu.

Al Tayer said this project is part of Dubai’s goal to be a leader in new and smart ways of transportation. He added that the RTA is also testing other types of transport, like flying taxis and driverless boats.

Dubai wants 25% of all travel in the city to be done by self-driving vehicles by the year 2030. The RTA has been working on testing self-driving systems since 2016.

How Driverless Taxis Can Help People

The RT6 robotaxi is built for everyday public use and has already proven itself in China by being safe, efficient, and reliable. Now, the same cars will be tested in Dubai. The test will help experts collect data to decide how to use the service in the future.

Halton Niu from Baidu said, “This partnership shows that Dubai is ready to use new and smart technology. It also helps the UAE move closer to becoming a world leader in self-driving transport.”

Ahmed Bahrozyan from RTA talked about how driverless cars can help people. “These vehicles will improve life for everyone. They will give more freedom to people who can’t drive, like children, older adults, or people with health issues. They also save time, make travel easier, and can make roads safer.”

He added that the upcoming trials will help the RTA build a strong plan for the future. Learning and working together with Baidu will help bring this project to life across the city.

The future of travel in Dubai is not far away — it’s already starting, one driverless taxi at a time.