Baidu's Apollo Go to expand robotaxi services to UAE
Autonomous fleet to launch in Dubai this year, current trials in Abu Dhabi
#UAE #robotaxis– Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing platform, Apollo Go, has announced a major expansion into the UAE, via strategic partnerships with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Abu Dhabi-based Autogo, a new business unit of Kintsugi Holding. The initiative will see Apollo Go deploy 100 fully autonomous vehicles in Dubai by the end of 2025, with plans to expand the fleet to at least 1,000 by 2028. Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi, Apollo Go and Autogo have launched initial trials of driverless vehicles in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Mobility (Integrated Transport Centre), with full commercial operations expected by 2026. This move marks Apollo Go’s first large-scale international deployment outside China and Hong Kong.
SO WHAT? - With multiple autonomous taxi and bus trials taking place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai over the past five years, the Emirates’ has yet to see the deployment of large scale robotaxi fleets. Baidu’s entry into the UAE’s mobility ecosystem could signal a significant milestone in the country’s autonomous road transportation journey. Apollo Go has now been operating robotaxi services in China’s capital Beijing for five years and other major cities including Wuhan, serving more than 10 million passengers to-date. Nevertheless, plans for UAE operations could prove to be significant globally in terms of size and scale, not to mention its first major expansion into a left-hand drive market.
Some key facts about the Apollo Go announcements:
Baidu’’s autonomous ride-hailing platform Apollo Go has signed two agreements to launch robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This marks Apollo Go’s first large-scale expansion plans outside China and Hong Kong.
Apollo Go has already completed 150 million kilometres of safe autonomous driving and delivered over 10 million rides in China.
Apollo Go signed a strategic partnership with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and with Autogo, a new business unit of Kintsugi Holding for new services in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Mobility.
Deployment in Dubai will start with 100 robotaxis in 2025 to Dubai’s Downtown area, expanding to at least 1,000 vehicles by 2028.
Meanwhile, trials of Apollo Go robotaxi have begun in Abu Dhabi, with plan to build Abu Dhabi’s largest driverless fleet and commence full commercial operations targeted for 2026.
The fleet will feature Apollo Go’s 6th-generation RT6 robotaxi, designed for full autonomy and enhanced passenger experience.
Apollo Go’s trials and services in both cities will be conducted in accordance with local transportation laws and infrastructure requirements.
The all-electric, on-demand service aims to reduce congestion, lower emissions, and contribute to the UAE’s smart city ambitions.
Apollo Go was granted its first international autonomous vehicle pilot license in Hong Kong in November 2024, marking its entry into right-hand-drive markets.
ZOOM OUT - Abu Dhabi and Dubai have conducted a variety of autonomous vehicle trials over the past few years. The longest running trial is the autonomous taxi and bus service on Saadiyat Island and Yas Island in Abu Dhabi run by G42 Group in collaboration with Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (now Abu Dhabi Mobility). Uber recently announced that it was adding a robotaxi ride-hailing option for the area, to include , trips o and from Zayed International Airport. Dubai was trialing GM’s ill-fated Cruise autonomous taxi platform on selected Dubai streets in 2023, following an agreement announced in 2021 to put thousands of robotaxis on the roads.
In consequence, both Abu Dhabi and Dubai emirates have been preparing for large-scale deployment of autonomous taxis for years. The UAE has also begun creating legislation for autonomous road vehicles, with autonomous vehicles added to UAE federal vehicle classifications last year. Nevertheless, many challenges remain before robotaxis can be expected to deployed on UAE roads in large numbers.
Read more about the UAE’s driverless vehicle journey:
New ATRC venture to transform vehicles into AVs (Middle East AI News)
Root4AI to fast-track autonomous systems (Middle East AI News)
Abu Dhabi confirms anchor deals for SAVI (Middle East AI News)
Abu Dhabi announces new smart mobility cluster (Middle East AI News)
Chinese, Egyptian firms win Dubai World Challenge (Middle East AI News)