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Dubai will begin the first phase of its driverless RoboTaxi rollout across 65 locations as the emirate prepares for the launch of commercial autonomous taxi services in early 2026, according to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
RTA said Phase One of the project will include 17 locations in Zone One and 48 locations in Zone Two. These areas represent the most extensive mapping of public roads approved so far for autonomous taxi operations in Dubai and are part of preparations for a planned first-quarter launch, subject to regulatory approvals and trial performance.
Autonomous control centre to manage operations
The designated zones fall under the operational framework of Baidu Apollo Go’s autonomous vehicle programme. The rollout follows the opening of Baidu’s Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre at Dubai Science Park, the company’s first such facility outside China.
The centre will manage end-to-end RoboTaxi operations, including vehicle maintenance, charging, software updates and safety monitoring. It will also support real-time operational oversight as autonomous vehicles begin operating on public roads within the approved zones.
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The 65 mapped locations will form the base for future expansion, with plans to increase the autonomous fleet to more than 1,000 vehicles in the coming years. The initiative builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between RTA and Baidu in March 2025 to support large-scale autonomous taxi operations.
In July 2025, Baidu received Dubai’s first autonomous driving trial permit, followed by trials of 50 RT6 autonomous vehicles on selected roads in August, including areas such as Dubai Silicon Oasis and Jumeirah.
RTA said commercial operations of the driverless taxi service are targeted for the first quarter of 2026, subject to the successful completion of ongoing trials and final regulatory approvals.
RTA said Phase One of the project will include 17 locations in Zone One and 48 locations in Zone Two. These areas represent the most extensive mapping of public roads approved so far for autonomous taxi operations in Dubai and are part of preparations for a planned first-quarter launch, subject to regulatory approvals and trial performance.
Autonomous control centre to manage operations
The designated zones fall under the operational framework of Baidu Apollo Go’s autonomous vehicle programme. The rollout follows the opening of Baidu’s Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre at Dubai Science Park, the company’s first such facility outside China.The centre will manage end-to-end RoboTaxi operations, including vehicle maintenance, charging, software updates and safety monitoring. It will also support real-time operational oversight as autonomous vehicles begin operating on public roads within the approved zones.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
Expansion plans
RTA has issued Baidu Apollo Go Dubai’s first permit to conduct fully autonomous vehicle trials without a safety driver. The authority said this is a key step towards launching a fully integrated commercial autonomous ride-hailing service in the emirate.The 65 mapped locations will form the base for future expansion, with plans to increase the autonomous fleet to more than 1,000 vehicles in the coming years. The initiative builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between RTA and Baidu in March 2025 to support large-scale autonomous taxi operations.
In July 2025, Baidu received Dubai’s first autonomous driving trial permit, followed by trials of 50 RT6 autonomous vehicles on selected roads in August, including areas such as Dubai Silicon Oasis and Jumeirah.
RTA said commercial operations of the driverless taxi service are targeted for the first quarter of 2026, subject to the successful completion of ongoing trials and final regulatory approvals.
