Dubai launches public driverless taxi service

Dubai residents can now book fully driverless taxis as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) begins public operations of its autonomous taxi service in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah.

The service is being rolled out in partnership with Apollo Go and autonomous driving technology company WeRide as part of Dubai's Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to have 25% of all trips across the emirate made by autonomous transport by 2030.

Passengers can book the vehicles through both the Apollo Go and Uber apps. Rides booked through Apollo Go are currently free as part of a promotional campaign, while the same driverless taxis are available as a paid option on Uber at prices comparable to regular ride-hailing services.

How to book a free driverless ride

To use the free service, passengers need to:

• Download the Apollo Go app and create an account;
• Select pickup and drop-off locations within the current service area;
• Confirm the booking and wait for the vehicle to arrive;
• Unlock the car using the one-time password (OTP) provided in the app before starting the trip.

For now, the service is limited to Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, although Dubai plans to gradually expand coverage as the rollout continues.

Unlike earlier trials, the vehicles now operate without a driver behind the wheel. In some situations, however, a safety specialist may still be present inside the vehicle to monitor operations.

Passengers booking through Uber will pay a regular fare for the same autonomous vehicle. For example, a trip between Jumeirah Mosque and Umm Suqeim is currently priced at around AED 81, although fares fluctuate in line with other ride-hailing services.

Dubai plans to launch around 100 autonomous taxis during the initial phase, with the fleet expected to expand in the coming years as the city continues its push toward large-scale autonomous transportation.