Uber and Baidu Launch Apollo Go Driverless Taxi Service in Dubai

Uber Technologies has officially integrated Baidu's Apollo Go driverless service into its Dubai network, with ambitious plans to deploy thousands of autonomous vehicles across the emirate. According to a statement released by San Francisco-based Uber on Thursday, the rollout utilizes Baidu's sixth-generation RT6 robotaxi and will initially serve the Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim areas before expanding further.

This new offering complements Uber's existing driverless service in Abu Dhabi, which operates in partnership with WeRide. To access Apollo Go, riders can be matched with the autonomous cars through UberX or Uber Comfort, or by manually selecting the "autonomous" option within the app.

“Bringing our partnership with Baidu to life is a major step forward as we expand autonomous mobility globally,” stated Sarfraz Maredia, head of autonomous mobility and delivery at Uber. He added that launching in Dubai marks the first time their multi-partner vision has been realized on public roads, combining advanced autonomous technology with a global marketplace to accelerate a shared and electric future.

The initiative highlights a growing regional focus on self-driving services as the UAE prepares for advanced smart mobility. Companies in the autonomous sector are aggressively racing to put their fleets on public roads. Previously, Uber acquired the homegrown ride-hailing service Careem in 2020 for $3.1 billion, and Beijing-based Baidu has maintained a strong presence in the Emirates as well.

Baidu's Apollo Go has established several strategic UAE partnerships, including a collaboration with the Dubai Taxi Company to deploy over 1,000 driverless cabs. Additionally, Apollo Go secured Dubai’s first testing permit for fully autonomous vehicles without a safety driver in January, and partnered with Abu Dhabi-based technology company K2 in March to operate robotaxis on select routes. Operating in 28 cities globally, the service has prompted the emirate to introduce dedicated licence plates to make autonomous fleets easily recognizable.

“Dubai is also the first city where we've successfully established a dual-model offering both self-operated and partner-based autonomous ride-hailing services internationally,” noted Nan Yang, a vice president at Baidu.