Dubai Taxi launches a self-driving vehicle service

Dubai Taxi Company, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, in partnership with Baidu, listed on the Nasdaq and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges, announced the launch of self-driving taxi services in Dubai through its Apollo Go platform, which represents the first international presence of the application and a strategic step for the company in the region.

This strategic partnership combines Apollo Go’s advanced self-driving technologies with Dubai Taxi Company’s extensive operational experience at the local level, as Dubai Taxi Company uses its expertise as a leading transportation services provider and the largest taxi and limousine fleet operator in the emirate to support the launch of the pioneering service in Dubai.

The commercial launch of self-driving taxis comes in line with the objectives of the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to transform 25% of total transportation services into smart and self-driving vehicles by 2030.

The initial operation of the service will begin with a fleet of 50 vehicles in the first year, with a plan to expand in stages to increase the number of vehicles to more than 1,000 self-driving vehicles in the coming years, which strengthens Dubai Taxi Company’s position at the forefront of adopting advanced mobility solutions.

Residents and visitors of the emirate can book self-driving trips through the Apollo Go application, which is available on the App Store and Play Store, provided that the service reservation channels will be expanded to include the Boltt platform and other applications with the gradual expansion of the service.

Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of the External Business Unit of the Smart Driving Group, said: We are pleased to contribute to achieving Dubai’s vision for smart transportation in line with the needs of the future, as our partnership with Dubai Taxi Company opens new horizons for the self-driving transportation sector in the emirate. By combining our advanced technologies with Dubai Taxi’s extensive operational experience at the local level, and launching the Apollo Go application for the first time in global markets, we are working to provide safe, efficient and scalable mobility services that raise new standards of mobility in the region.

Mansoor Rahma Al Falasi, CEO of Dubai Taxi Company, said: Dubai Taxi Company is proud to be one of the leading companies launching self-driving taxi operations in Dubai, in a step that represents a pivotal step towards achieving the emirate’s vision in the field of smart and sustainable mobility. This initiative comes in line with the company’s innovation-based strategy and its commitment to providing services that keep pace with future needs and enhance customer experience. This achievement is one of the fruits of our strategic partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, and we thank their continued support in developing a comprehensive infrastructure that allows the smooth deployment of self-driving taxis, in line with the emirate’s ambitions to transform 25% of total transportation trips in Dubai into smart and self-driving trips by 2030.

He added: We are proud of our partnership with Baidu to launch this advanced technology in Dubai, in a step that combines global innovation with the emirate’s pioneering approach. The launch of this service today is based on the successful experiments conducted over the past months, which demonstrated the readiness of the vehicles, especially in terms of safety, reliability and operational efficiency, which strengthens our confidence in the possibility of expanding the scope of this service.”

Dubai Taxi Company enjoys a prominent position as the leading provider of comprehensive transportation services in Dubai, with a fleet of more than 6,000 taxis and limousines, supported by more than three decades of experience, which confirms its full readiness to lead the operations of autonomous vehicles and expand their spread.

By utilizing advanced monitoring systems, data-driven operations and modern technologies, the company ensures the highest levels of safety, reliability and smoothness in all its flights, which strengthens its leadership position in managing the future of autonomous mobility.

The commercial launch of the self-driving taxi service follows the milestone achieved by Apollo Go in January 2026 by obtaining the first permit in Dubai to test fully autonomous vehicles without the presence of a safety driver.

This regulatory approval allows Baidu to operate fully autonomous vehicle services in Dubai, cementing the emirate’s position as a strategic center for innovation in the field of autonomous mobility.

January 2026 also witnessed the opening of the Apollo Go Center in Dubai, the company’s first autonomous vehicle operations and control center outside China, supporting plans to operate a fleet of more than 1,000 autonomous vehicles in the coming years.

As Apollo Go continues to expand its global presence, Dubai represents a major strategic hub within its growing global network. As of February 2026, the Apollo Go platform has completed more than 20 million flights globally, setting a record number of weekly flights that exceeded 300,000 flights during the fourth quarter of 2025.

The distance traveled by its fleet of autonomous vehicles has reached more than 300 million kilometers, including more than 190 million kilometers in fully autonomous operations, while achieving an outstanding safety and security record.