Dubai to launch 100 self-driving taxis in 2025

Dubai is preparing to launch its first fleet of 100 autonomous taxis in 2025, as part of its long-term strategy to integrate self-driving technology into public transport.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Apollo Go, the autonomous ride-hailing platform of Baidu, to begin operational trials in the emirate.

This marks Apollo Go’s first international deployment outside mainland China and Hong Kong. According to RTA, 50 RT6 vehicles will begin trial operations in the coming months. These sixth-generation autonomous taxis are equipped with 40 sensors, including LiDAR, cameras, and radar systems, to meet high safety and automation standards.

If testing proceeds as planned, the fleet will gradually expand to 1,000 autonomous vehicles within the next three years. Passenger transport in fully driverless mode is expected to begin in 2026.

The project supports Dubai’s Autonomous Transportation Strategy, which targets shifting 25% of all transportation trips to autonomous modes by 2030. The initiative is expected to improve road safety by reducing accidents caused by human error, and to enhance transport accessibility across the city.

According to the strategy, the transition to autonomous transport could generate up to AED 22 billion in economic value annually — including AED 900 million in reduced transportation costs, AED 1.5 billion from improved environmental outcomes such as lower emissions, and AED 18 billion in productivity gains through time saved and increased efficiency across the transport network.