Dubai Taxi Company (DTC), in partnership with Baidu, has launched driverless commercial ride-hailing services in Dubai through its autonomous platform Apollo Go, marking the app’s first international deployment and a major regional milestone.
The collaboration combines Apollo Go’s advanced autonomous driving technology with DTC’s local operational expertise as Dubai’s leading mobility provider. The initiative supports Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to make 25 percent of all trips smart and driverless by 2030.
The rollout will begin with 50 vehicles in the first year, scaling to over 1,000 in the coming years. Users can book rides via the Apollo Go app, with plans to expand access to platforms like Bolt and other e-hailing services as the fleet grows.
With a fleet of more than 6,000 taxis and limousines and over 30 years of experience, DTC is well positioned to lead large-scale autonomous operations, supported by advanced monitoring systems and data-driven technology.
This commercial launch follows a key milestone in January 2026, when Apollo Go received Dubai’s first permit to test fully autonomous vehicles without a safety driver, cementing the city’s role as a hub for next-generation mobility innovation.
In January 2026, Baidu Inc. inaugurated the Apollo Go Park in Dubai, its first overseas operations and management hub, supporting plans to scale to over 1,000 autonomous vehicles in the coming years.
Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi CEO – Dubai Taxi Company
“Dubai Taxi Company is proud and excited to be among the first entities to roll out the operations of driverless taxis in Dubai, marking a significant milestone in advancing the emirate’s vision for smart and sustainable mobility. This initiative is in line with DTC’s innovation-driven strategy and its commitment to delivering future-ready services that elevate the customer experience. We are grateful to our strategic partner, Dubai RTA, for their unwavering support and the development of a comprehensive infrastructure that enables the seamless deployment of driverless taxis, aligned with the ambition of transforming 25 percent of all transportation trips into smart and driverless journeys by 2030.”
Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of Overseas Business Unit, Intelligent Driving Group, said that, “Our partnership with DTC represents a new chapter for autonomous mobility in Dubai. By combining our cutting-edge technology with DTC’s local expertise, and through the launch of the Apollo Go app, our first international app deployment, we are creating a safe, efficient and scalable ride-hailing service that sets a new standard for the region. We are proud to contribute to Dubai’s vision for smart, future-ready transportation.”
Dubai has become a key strategic hub in the global expansion of Apollo Go. As of February 2026, the platform has completed more than 20 million rides worldwide, with weekly rides exceeding 300,000 at peak in the fourth quarter of 2025. Its fleet has logged over 300 million autonomous kilometers, including more than 190 million fully driverless kilometers, maintaining a strong safety record.
