Driverless vehicles can be booked on the Apollo Go app, marking the platform’s first international app deployment

Dubai Taxi Company PJSC (DTC), in partnership with Baidu Inc., has officially launched driverless commercial ride-hailing services in Dubai. Available via the Apollo Go app, this marks the platform’s first international deployment outside of China. This strategic alliance combines Baidu’s cutting-edge autonomous technology with DTC’s local operational expertise as the emirate’s leading mobility provider.

Advancing Dubai’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy

The launch supports Dubai’s ambitious goal to transform 25% of all transportation trips into smart and driverless journeys by 2030. The service will debut with an initial fleet of 50 vehicles, with plans to scale to over 1,000 driverless taxis over the next few years. While currently available on the Apollo Go app, booking options are expected to expand to Bolt and other e-hail providers as the rollout progresses.

“Our partnership with DTC represents a new chapter for autonomous mobility,” said Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu. “By launching our first international app deployment in Dubai, we are creating a safe, efficient, and scalable service that sets a new standard for the region.”

Proven Safety and Infrastructure Support

Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi, Group CEO of DTC, highlighted the support of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in developing the necessary infrastructure. “Successful trials over the past few months have demonstrated the vehicles’ readiness in terms of safety and reliability,” Alfalasi noted. With a fleet of over 6,000 traditional vehicles and three decades of experience, DTC is uniquely positioned to manage this large-scale autonomous transition.

A Milestone Year for Autonomous Mobility

This commercial launch follows a series of breakthroughs in early 2026:

• January 2026: Apollo Go received Dubai’s first-ever permit for fully autonomous testing without a safety driver.
• January 2026: Baidu inaugurated the Apollo Go Park in Dubai, its first overseas operations and management hub.
• Global Scale: As of February 2026, Apollo Go has surpassed 20 million rides worldwide, with over 190 million kilometers of fully driverless operations and an outstanding safety record.