Uber and Baidu have started offering fully driverless Apollo Go robotaxis to riders in Dubai, the first city to host what the two companies call the first multi-partner autonomous network. The launch marks the opening step of a multi-year plan to scale thousands of electric self-driving vehicles across Uber’s global network.
What exactly has launched in Dubai?
Riders in Dubai can now be matched with Baidu’s fully driverless Apollo Go vehicles through the Uber app. New Horizon Luxury Transport serves as the fleet operator. According to Uber, this is the first time the two companies’ partnership has reached public roads. Baidu says the two firms first announced the partnership in July 2025.
Riders who request an UberX or Uber Comfort trip may be paired with a driverless car. Alternatively, they can select the dedicated “Autonomous” option in the app to raise their chances of being matched with a robotaxi.
Where can riders use the service?
At launch, the service covers select locations in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, as Gulf News reported. Both companies plan to widen the operating territory over time.
Dubai, they say, acts as the launchpad for a wider international rollout.
What vehicle is being used?
The service uses Apollo Go’s sixth-generation RT6, a purpose-built, fully electric robotaxi designed for driverless operations.
Each vehicle carries up to three passengers. Moreover, it is fitted with more than 30 sensors for perception of its surroundings, along with real-time onboard data processing.
How much experience does Apollo Go bring?
Baidu says Apollo Go has a record of large-scale, real-world deployment. To date, the service has operated across 28 cities worldwide. Furthermore, its fleets have covered more than 350 million autonomous kilometres, including over 240 million fully driverless kilometres, which Baidu describes as an outstanding safety record.
Baidu also reports that, as of the end of June, its fully driverless vehicles averaged roughly one airbag deployment every 14.4 million kilometres.
Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of its Overseas Business Unit, Intelligent Driving Group, called the launch a meaningful milestone. “Dubai is also the first city where we’ve successfully established a dual-model offering both self-operated and partner-based autonomous ride-hailing services internationally,” he said. In addition, he said riders in Dubai now have another way to enjoy the benefits of autonomous mobility.
Why is this important for Uber’s wider plans?
Uber frames the launch as evidence of its strategy to become the platform of choice for autonomous vehicles. Indeed, the company says it works with more than 30 AV partners and completes millions of autonomous trips each year.
Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous, said the launch is a major step for the company. “Launching in Dubai marks the first time our multi-partner vision comes to life on public roads,” he said. Moreover, he argued that combining advanced autonomous technology with Uber’s marketplace can speed up an electric, shared and autonomous future.
Uber describes its approach as a hybrid network, where autonomous vehicles and human drivers work side by side. The aim, the company says, is to make transport more affordable, sustainable and accessible.
How is safety being handled?
Uber says safety remains its top priority. Consequently, all autonomous vehicles on the platform, including Baidu’s Apollo Go, must meet the company’s safety guidelines before operating on the network. Baidu, for its part, points to its accumulated driverless mileage as evidence of its approach.
What happens next?
Dubai is only the first market for this partnership. Both companies have described it as the inaugural step in a multi-year plan to scale thousands of Apollo Go vehicles across Uber’s global network. As a result, further cities and a larger operating area in Dubai are expected, though the source gives no timeline or list of future markets.
For now, the immediate change is on the ground in Dubai, where riders in two neighbourhoods can hail a car with no driver behind the wheel. Whether the rollout meets the companies’ ambitions will depend on how the service performs as it expands. Until then, the figures cited for fleet size and future scale remain company statements rather than independent results.
