Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched strategic partnerships with Uber Technologies, Inc., WeRide, and Baidu’s autonomous mobility arm, Apollo Go, marking a significant step towards achieving Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to transform 25% of all citywide journeys to be autonomous by 2030.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, emphasized, “These collaborations reinforce RTA’s commitment to engaging with global technology leaders and form part of a series of autonomous mobility trials launched in 2016, which have grown in diversity over the past years.”
Al Tayer noted that the deployment of autonomous taxis will support the integration of transport systems by enhancing first and last-mile connectivity for public transport users. This move aligns with the First and Last-Mile strategy adopted by RTA to facilitate passenger movement between the point of origin and the nearest public transport station.
“Autonomous vehicles also contribute to improved road safety, as human error is responsible for over 90% of traffic accidents,” he added.
In preparation for the commercial launch in 2026, trials for Dubai’s autonomous taxis will begin this year, with a safety driver seated behind the wheel. “The broader rollout of autonomous vehicles will mark a transformative shift in Dubai’s transport landscape and further strengthen RTA’s efforts to enhance network integration by facilitating smoother mobility for public transport users.”
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Transforming Dubai’s Urban Mobility
Baidu’s Apollo Go, the world’s largest operator of driverless fleets, will bring its sixth-generation robotaxi RT6 to Dubai. With over 150 million kilometers of safe autonomous driving recorded and millions of rides completed, Apollo Go will revolutionize Dubai’s urban mobility.
Dr. Wang Yunpeng, Baidu’s Corporate Vice President and President of Baidu Intelligent Driving Group stated, “This ambitious partnership with Dubai’s RTA represents Apollo Go’s biggest international expansion beyond China thus far. It also highlights Dubai’s commitment to positioning itself as a global hub for innovation in future mobility. We are committed to delivering safe, sustainable, and efficient services to more regions, working alongside local partners to provide meaningful transport solutions that benefit broader communities around the world.”
Commenting on the collaboration, Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery Operations, Noah Zych, said, “We’re thrilled to be working with Dubai’s RTA to bring autonomous vehicles onto the Uber platform, starting with our technology partner WeRide. At Uber, we’re building the future of transportation, working with the world’s leading autonomous vehicle developers to help commercialize and deploy this technology at scale around the world.”
Jennifer Li, WeRide’s Chief Financial Officer and Head of International Business, highlighted, “Dubai marks a natural step forward in our commitment to advancing mobility in the Middle East as well as our continued global expansion. We believe our advanced autonomous driving technology and operational experience, combined with Uber’s powerful global mobility platform, will help us serve millions of consumers in cities around the world.”
This initiative is part of RTA’s broader strategy to position Dubai at the forefront of autonomous mobility and support its vision of becoming the smartest, most livable city in the world.
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