Dubai launches Baidu driverless taxis, plans 1,000 AI cabs in coming years
Dubai has officially launched driverless RT6 taxis. The fully autonomous vehicles are powered by Baidu’s Apollo Go platform.
Dubai recently introduced its first driverless RT6 taxis on city streets, marking a significant step towards autonomous driving in the UAE. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has granted the first permit to operate these driverless taxis in the emirate to a Chinese company, Baidu’s Apollo Go.
The operation was launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.
Sheikh Hamdan rode in one of the autonomous RT6 taxis for the World Government Summit in Madinat Jumeirah, demonstrating the technology’s ability to operate safely in real urban conditions on roads open to traffic. The demonstration highlights the emirate’s endeavor towards future mobility solutions with the driverless taxi service scheduled for public rollout in the first quarter of 2026.
During the visit, Sheikh Hamdan was briefed about the operating system (OS) of the car. The operating system uses artificial intelligence (AI), advanced sensors and autonomous decision making to provide safe and smooth mobility.
The RT6 is a sixth-generation autonomous taxi designed for large-scale deployment. The vehicle is equipped with over 40 sensors, including high-precision LiDAR, advanced cameras and multi-band radar that enable the car to sense its surrounding environment such as reacting to changing traffic conditions or making decisions safely in real-time.
The software combines real-time data, high-definition maps and deep-learning algorithms to navigate complex urban environments, safely interacting with pedestrians, intersections and other vehicles. This system completely follows the traffic rules. Worldwide, Baidu Apollo Go vehicles have driven more than 150 million kilometers and completed 10 million autonomous trips, laying a solid foundation for large-scale commercial deployment.
As part of its expansion, Chinese company Baidu Apollo Go also inaugurated its first operations and control center outside the country, located in the Dubai Science Park. The 2,000 square meter facility oversees the autonomous fleet and includes a command centre, simulation and training rooms, as well as maintenance facilities. From the center, the company monitors the performance of automated vehicles, updates software, supports safety testing, and conducts inspections.
This artificial intelligence-based cab feature is the result of a close partnership and collaboration between Baidu Apollo Go and Dubai’s RTA, which started at the 2025 World Government Summit. The milestone highlights Dubai’s progress towards AI-powered transportation, with plans to expand the autonomous fleet to more than 1,000 vehicles in the coming years.
