Baidu, China’s prominent autonomous driving company, is preparing to test 50 driverless taxis on Dubai’s roads. The project supports the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims for 25% of trips in Dubai to be driverless by 2030. A full rollout of Baidu driverless taxis in Dubai is planned by 2026.
Baidu Robotaxi Trial and Rollout Plan in Dubai
Dubai is preparing to launch a large-scale driverless taxi service in partnership with Baidu. Here are the main phases and goals of this major transport project.
Partnership and Agreement
RTA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Baidu’s Apollo Go service. The agreement supports the deployment of driverless taxis in Dubai as part of the city’s Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy.
Under the MoU, Baidu will provide its RT6 driverless vehicles for the upcoming trial phase. The pilot phase will take place with the testing of 50 autonomous cars as the first step towards a full public launch planned for 2026.
The Testing Phase
The vehicles are designed for self-driving services and include 40 sensors to support safe and automated operation.
The Dubai autonomous taxi pilot 2026 will focus on performance evaluation and data analysis. Insights from this phase will help fine-tune the service ahead of the public rollout.
Full Rollout Plans
Dubai’s RTA and Baidu will begin the public launch of driverless taxi services in 2026. Riders will be able to book trips using the Apollo Go app once operations go live.
Before the full launch, 100 driverless taxis will be deployed across key areas for limited-scale testing by the end of 2025. This will allow real-world operations to begin on a limited scale, giving time to monitor performance and customer feedback.
The full rollout will then expand in phases. Over the following three years, Baidu aims to grow the robotaxi fleet in the UAE to 1,000 vehicles. This rollout supports Dubai’s target of converting 25% of all city trips to driverless journeys by 2030.
Technology and Safety
The Baidu Apollo RT6 is a Level 4 driverless taxi designed for safe city travel. It has over 40 sensors, including LiDAR, radars, and cameras, and uses advanced AI and deep-learning software to navigate traffic and make decisions in real time.
The vehicle also has strong backup systems for steering, braking, and power to ensure safety. Baidu’s autonomous cars have already driven over 150 million kilometres and completed more than 10 million trips worldwide, proving their reliability and readiness for large-scale use.
Official Launch of Driverless Taxi Operations
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, officially launched the operations of fully autonomous RT6 taxis developed by Baidu Apollo Go. He took a ride in the vehicle to the World Governments Summit at Madinat Jumeirah, marking a key milestone ahead of the public launch in Q1 2026.
Baidu also inaugurated its first operations centre outside China at Dubai Science Park, a 2,000-square-metre hub for managing, monitoring and maintaining the autonomous fleet. This step supports Dubai’s plan to expand the driverless taxi fleet to over 1,000 vehicles in the coming years
FAQs
How many autonomous taxis will Baidu deploy in Dubai by 2026?
By 2026, Baidu plans to deploy 1,000 autonomous RT6 taxis in Dubai as part of the full public rollout.
When will the Apollo Go driverless taxi service officially launch in Dubai?
The Apollo Go driverless taxi service in Dubai will officially begin public operations in 2026, marking the Baidu driverless car launch date.
What are the key features of Baidu’s RT6 robotaxi?
Baidu’s RT6 robotaxi features Level 4 autonomous driving with 40 sensors for full 360° detection. It includes a powerful computing system and a flexible interior with a detachable steering wheel to enhance passenger comfort.
This was all about the Baidu driverless taxis in Dubai and their projected role in shaping the city’s future mobility landscape. As the rollout moves forward, the focus remains on making transport smarter, safer and more accessible for everyone.
While autonomous taxis are gaining popularity, many still prefer owning a car. There are plenty of new and used cars for sale in Dubai to suit different needs and budgets.
Stay tuned to dubizzle auto blogs for more information on transportation projects and upgrades across Dubai.
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