Uber and Baidu start driverless taxi service in Dubai

Uber has launched Baidu's driverless taxi service, named Apollo Go, in Dubai, with plans to deploy thousands of autonomous vehicles in the city. The service began in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim areas, with further expansion on the horizon, according to a statement from Uber. Uber already operates a driverless service in Abu Dhabi, partnering with WeRide, while Apollo Go is available in 28 cities worldwide.

Uber CEO Sarfraz Maredia emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating that it marks the first implementation of their multi-partner vision on public roads, showcasing the potential of combining advanced autonomous technology with their global marketplace for a more electric, shared, and autonomous future. Dubai has been actively focused on self-driving services, with several companies racing to deploy their vehicles on roads.

Uber acquired ride-hailing service Careem in 2020, and Baidu has been actively developing autonomous technology in the Emirates. The partnership between Uber and Baidu in Dubai's capital in 2024 was Uber's first international driverless service launch. Baidu's Apollo Go service has already secured multiple UAE partnerships, including Dubai Taxi Company, which plans to deploy over 1,000 driverless cabs in the emirate.

In January, Baidu received Dubai's first testing permit for fully autonomous vehicles, without a safety driver. In March, Apollo Go partnered with Abu Dhabi's technology company K2 to operate robotaxis on select routes in the emirate. Soon, Dubai will issue dedicated license plates for autonomous fleets, further enhancing the recognition of these vehicles.