Baidu Apollo Go Driverless Robotaxis Launch on Uber in Dubai

[ Dubai's Driverless Robotaxis Are Here ]

Baidu Apollo Go Driverless Robotaxis Launch on Uber in Dubai

Dubai, UAE —  Dubai has taken another major step toward autonomous transportation with the launch of Baidu’s fully driverless Apollo Go robotaxis on the Uber platform. The service went live on August 20, allowing riders in selected parts of Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim to potentially book a vehicle with no human driver behind the wheel.

The launch marks the first time the Baidu-Uber autonomous ride-hailing partnership has become operational for passengers. It also positions Dubai as a key international market for Baidu’s autonomous-driving expansion.

Key Highlights

• Baidu Apollo Go robotaxis went live on Uber in Dubai on August 20, 2026.The service initially covers selected areas of Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim.
• Riders can potentially receive an autonomous vehicle when booking UberX or Uber Comfort.An “Autonomous” option lets users specifically request a robotaxi.
• The service uses Baidu's fully electric Apollo Go RT6.Each vehicle can carry up to three passengers.
• The RT6 uses more than 30 sensors for autonomous driving.New Horizon Luxury Transport is managing local fleet operations.
• Dubai aims for 25% of transportation trips to be autonomous by 2030.
• Baidu says Apollo Go has accumulated more than 350 million autonomous kilometres globally.

How to Book a Baidu Apollo Go Robotaxi in Dubai

Passengers do not need a separate app to request an Apollo Go vehicle through Uber.

When booking an UberX or Uber Comfort ride within the initial service area, users may be matched with a fully driverless Apollo Go robotaxi. Riders who specifically want an autonomous vehicle can select the dedicated “Autonomous” option in the Uber app to increase their chances of being matched with one.

The initial service is limited to selected locations in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim, with Uber and Baidu planning to expand the operating area over time.

Apollo Go RT6: The Robotaxi Behind the Service

The Dubai service uses Baidu’s sixth-generation Apollo Go RT6, a purpose-built, fully electric robotaxi designed for driverless operation.

The RT6 can carry up to three passengers and features more than 30 sensors to monitor its surroundings and process road conditions in real time. Its autonomous-driving hardware includes cameras, lidar and other sensing systems designed to help the vehicle detect surrounding traffic and obstacles.

Fleet operations in Dubai are being handled by New Horizon Luxury Transport, while Baidu supplies the autonomous-driving technology and Uber provides the ride-hailing platform.

Why Dubai Is Important for Autonomous Mobility

Dubai has established itself as an important testing ground for autonomous transportation. The emirate aims to make 25% of transportation trips autonomous by 2030, forming part of its broader self-driving transport strategy.

The latest Uber-Baidu launch builds on commercial autonomous taxi operations that began in Dubai in March 2026. The Roads and Transport Authority initially introduced autonomous taxi services in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim through partnerships involving Apollo Go and WeRide.

Apollo Go also received Dubai's first permit for fully autonomous vehicle testing without a safety driver in January 2026, highlighting the emirate's increasingly supportive regulatory environment for self-driving technology.

Dubai Becomes a Key International Market for Baidu

For Baidu, the Dubai launch represents more than another robotaxi deployment. The company says Dubai is the first international city where Apollo Go has established a dual-model autonomous ride-hailing operation, combining its own service with a partner platform such as Uber.

Apollo Go currently operates across 28 cities globally and has accumulated more than 350 million autonomous kilometres, including over 240 million kilometres completed fully without a human driver.

Baidu and Uber's broader partnership is designed to eventually scale thousands of Apollo Go robotaxis across Uber's global network, making the Dubai deployment an important early step in a much larger autonomous mobility strategy.

Uber's Growing Autonomous Vehicle Network

The Dubai partnership also fits into Uber's wider strategy of integrating autonomous vehicles from multiple technology companies into its ride-hailing platform.

Uber says it currently works with more than 30 autonomous vehicle partners, aiming to create a hybrid transportation network in which autonomous vehicles and human-driven cars operate alongside each other.

The company already offers a driverless service in Abu Dhabi with WeRide, making the UAE an increasingly important market for Uber's autonomous mobility ambitions.

What Comes Next for Dubai Robotaxis?

The immediate rollout remains geographically limited, but the companies have indicated that the operating area will expand. The number of Apollo Go vehicles specifically deployed through Uber in Dubai has not been disclosed.

For Dubai residents, however, the significance is straightforward: driverless robotaxis are moving beyond controlled demonstrations and into everyday ride-hailing.

As autonomous fleets expand across the UAE, Dubai could become one of the world's most visible real-world testing grounds for driverless transportation — bringing the idea of ordering a taxi with no driver closer to everyday reality.