Dubai is moving closer to a driverless future as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) begins pilot runs for autonomous taxis, with full commercial operations expected by the first quarter of 2026. The initiative marks a significant milestone in the city’s transport strategy, bringing global innovators together to revolutionize urban mobility.
Khaled Al Awadhi, Director of Transportation Systems at RTA’s Public Transport Agency, confirmed that early trials are already underway in select areas, including Jumeirah. The testing follows partnerships signed earlier this year with leading autonomous vehicle companies Baidu (Apollo Go), Pony.ai, and WeRide.
“The idea is to provide robotaxi services in Dubai by the first quarter of 2026. It will be commercially available to the public,” Al Awadhi said at the Dubai World Congress and Challenge for Self-Driving Transport.
Initial closed-road trials were held at Dubai Silicon Oasis, where all three companies underwent safety evaluations before advancing to open-road operations. Baidu and WeRide have now moved into real-world testing across city streets, with a combined fleet of 60 vehicles — 50 deployed by Baidu and 10 by WeRide.
To ensure accountability, RTA has issued special permits for the trials and continues to oversee every stage through its technical teams and independent consultants. Safety remains the cornerstone of the project, with rigorous monitoring designed to prepare the city for large-scale deployment.
Public engagement has also been prioritized. At the Dubai World Congress, select attendees had the chance to experience Baidu’s robotaxis firsthand, offering feedback that will help refine the service before its official rollout. These early experiences are viewed as essential for building public trust and confidence in autonomous technology.
When robotaxi services are commercially introduced in 2026, the fleet will gradually expand across Dubai, ultimately operating without safety drivers. With regulations already in place to govern autonomous vehicles, the city is positioning itself as a global leader in smart mobility and innovation.
