Baidu’s Apollo Go secures Dubai’s first fully driverless testing permit, marking a major step for autonomous vehicles and smart mobility in the UAE.
Dubai has granted its first permit for the testing of fully driverless vehicles to Apollo Go, the autonomous ride-hailing unit of China’s Baidu, marking a milestone in the emirate’s push toward smart mobility.
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The permit, issued by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), allows Apollo Go to operate fully autonomous vehicles on designated public roads without a human safety driver, Baidu said in a statement.
The company plans to launch a commercial autonomous ride-hailing service in Dubai in the first quarter of the year.
As part of the rollout, Baidu has opened an autonomous vehicle operations centre in Downtown Dubai. The 2,000-square-metre facility, known as Apollo Go Park, integrates intelligent road infrastructure, charging stations, vehicle maintenance facilities and related technologies.
Apollo Go Park is expected to evolve into a central command hub as Baidu and the RTA expand operations, with plans to scale the fleet to more than 1,000 fully driverless vehicles across the emirate.
Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, chief executive of the public transport agency at the RTA, said deploying Apollo Go’s autonomous vehicles on designated open roads will enable rigorous testing of safety, reliability and customer experience, ensuring any future large-scale deployment meets Dubai’s regulatory standards.
Yunpeng Wang, corporate vice president of Baidu, said the opening of the company’s first Apollo Go Park outside China will support the localisation of operations and services in Dubai.
The RTA and Apollo Go signed an agreement in March 2025 to advance autonomous driving testing and mobility services in the emirate.
The development comes as the UAE accelerates autonomous transport adoption. In November, Uber and China-based WeRide launched the commercial operation of fully driverless robotaxis in Abu Dhabi. WeRide has already secured a federal-level licence to operate autonomous vehicles in the country.
Why Baidu Driverless Vehicle Permit Matters to MENA
Baidu’s driverless permit in Dubai underscores the Middle East’s growing role as a testing ground for autonomous mobility. For MENA cities pursuing smart transport, reduced congestion and lower emissions, fully driverless vehicles represent a strategic leap. The move also highlights rising collaboration between Asian technology firms and Gulf regulators, positioning the UAE as a regional leader in commercial autonomous transport deployment.
