Apollo Go autonomous ride-hailing launches in Dubai with Uber

Baidu and Uber have announced the launch of their autonomous ride-hailing service, Apollo Go, in Dubai, with operations set to begin in March. This marks the first major entry of a Chinese robotaxi platform into the Middle Eastern market and aligns with the emirate's strategy to have 25% of all transportation be driverless by 2030.

Initially, fully autonomous vehicles will be available through the Uber app in select areas of Jumeirah. Users can request a robotaxi by selecting UberX, Uber Comfort, or the autonomous transport option. The fleet will be managed by New Horizon, which serves as the infrastructure operator. The service is planned to expand citywide after evaluating initial results and securing regulatory approval.

This project continues Apollo Go's international expansion. In December, the company announced plans to enter the London market, and in January, it opened its overseas control center in Dubai, called Apollo Go Park. The platform is considered a global leader in autonomous taxi services, having accumulated over 2.4 billion kilometers of autonomous driving, with more than 1.4 billion kilometers in fully driverless mode. Apollo Go operates in 22 cities and completes over 250,000 trips weekly. By the autumn of 2025, it had surpassed 17 million completed orders.

For Dubai, the launch of robotaxis represents another step in advancing its Smart Mobility initiatives. For Uber, it offers an opportunity to integrate autonomous technology into real-world commercial transportation. In the coming months, it will become clear how quickly residents of the emirate will embrace rides without a driver.