Dubai has taken a significant step in its autonomous transportation journey, with Uber officially launching Baidu’s fully driverless Apollo Go ride-hailing service in the emirate. The rollout, confirmed on August 20, 2026, marks the first time Uber riders in the Middle East can book fully autonomous vehicles through the platform.

The partnership between Uber and Chinese tech giant Baidu brings Apollo Go cars to Dubai’s streets, allowing users to hail driverless rides via the Uber app. The service expansion positions Dubai alongside a small group of global cities operating commercial driverless taxi fleets, and reflects the emirate’s broader push to become a leader in autonomous mobility.

According to Gulf News, Dubai passengers have already given robot taxis a 97% satisfaction rating as the self-driving fleet expands. The positive reception suggests strong public acceptance of autonomous transport in a city known for embracing cutting-edge technology.

The launch aligns with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) strategy to make 25% of all transportation autonomous by 2030. The RTA has been working with multiple partners to build the regulatory and infrastructure framework needed to support self-driving vehicles at scale.

Arabian Business reported that the Uber-Baidu partnership represents a notable shift in the competitive landscape, as it introduces Chinese autonomous driving technology into the Middle East market for the first time at commercial scale. Baidu’s Apollo platform has been operating driverless services in China since 2022 and has accumulated millions of autonomous driving miles.

For Dubai’s business community, the driverless taxi launch has implications beyond convenience. The city’s positioning as a testbed for autonomous technology could attract further investment from mobility companies, AI developers, and automotive technology firms. The emirate has already seen significant venture capital flow into transport-tech, and the arrival of Apollo Go adds another dimension to that ecosystem.

The service is expected to expand gradually, with initial operations focused on high-demand areas before scaling to broader coverage across the city. Pricing for driverless rides has not been disclosed, but Uber has indicated the fares will be competitive with traditional ride-hailing options.

Dubai’s move comes as cities worldwide grapple with the regulatory and safety questions surrounding autonomous vehicles. The emirate’s top-down approach to regulation and infrastructure planning has allowed it to move faster than many Western cities, where fragmented regulatory frameworks have slowed commercial deployment.

The launch also reflects growing Sino-Emirati economic ties, with Chinese technology companies increasingly viewing the UAE as a strategic gateway to Middle East and African markets. Baidu’s Apollo Go is among the first Chinese autonomous driving platforms to operate commercially outside China.