Baidu Inc. announced that Apollo Go, its autonomous ride-hailing platform, has received Dubai's first driverless vehicle trial permit from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The permit allows Apollo Go to operate fully autonomous vehicles on designated public roads without a human safety driver behind the wheel, marking another critical step toward Apollo Go's goal of launching a fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in Dubai as early as the first quarter of 2026. The driverless vehicle trial permit was formally issued by the RTA during the opening of Apollo Go Park in Dubai, Apollo Go's first facility of its kind outside China.
Located in downtown Dubai, the 2,000-square-meter Apollo Go Park is designed as a comprehensive center for autonomous vehicles, integrating intelligent road infrastructure, charging and maintenance facilities, and related technologies. It is expected to evolve into a central command hub as Apollo Go and the RTA plan to expand the fleet to more than 1,000 fully driverless vehicles in Dubai. The collaboration with Baidu Apollo Go forms part of the RTA's vision to expand future mobility solutions and enhance the deployment of autonomous vehicles across taxi and ride-hailing services.
This will contribute to improving quality of life, enhancing road safety, reducing carbon emissions, and increasing the efficiency of the emirate's transport network.
