Dubai has taken another major step toward becoming a global hub for autonomous transportation, with Uber now offering rides in Baidu’s fully driverless Apollo Go robotaxis.
The new service allows eligible riders to experience a journey without a human driver, as Uber expands its autonomous mobility network in partnership with Baidu.
Robotaxis Hit Dubai Roads
The service is initially being introduced in selected areas of Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah. Riders booking an UberX or Uber Comfort may be matched with an Apollo Go vehicle, while a dedicated “Autonomous” option is also available through the Uber app to increase the chances of receiving a driverless ride.
New Horizon Luxury Transport is operating the Apollo Go fleet in Dubai.
Built for Fully Autonomous Travel
The vehicles are powered by Baidu’s sixth-generation RT6 technology and are fully electric. Designed specifically for autonomous operations, each robotaxi can carry up to three passengers and features more than 30 sensors to monitor its surroundings and process information in real time.
Baidu says Apollo Go has already operated across 28 cities, covering more than 350 million autonomous kilometres, including over 240 million kilometres completed in fully driverless mode.
Dubai as a Global Launchpad
The Dubai rollout is part of a multi-year partnership between Uber and Baidu aimed at bringing thousands of autonomous vehicles to Uber’s global network.
Dubai is also the first international city where Baidu has combined self-operated and partner-based autonomous ride-hailing services, according to the companies.
With autonomous vehicles becoming an increasingly important part of Dubai’s transportation strategy, the launch of Apollo Go on Uber could mark the beginning of a much broader shift toward driverless mobility across the city.
