Dubai Robotaxis: Uber Riders Can Now Book Baidu’s Fully Driverless Apollo Go
By Thasmiya
Dubai’s driverless taxi rollout has entered a new phase, with **Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxis available to riders through the Uber app** in selected parts of the city.
The collaboration between Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Baidu and Uber brings Apollo Go’s autonomous vehicles onto Uber’s platform, giving passengers another way to experience fully driverless transport in Dubai. The initial service focuses on **Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim**, with expansion planned as operations develop and regulatory approvals allow. ([RTA](https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/news-and-media/all-news/NewsDetails/launching-commercial-operations-of-the-autonomous-taxi-service-in-umm-suqeim-and-jumeirah?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **What has changed for Uber riders in Dubai?**
Previously, Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous taxis in Dubai were primarily accessible through the **Apollo Go app**, while Uber’s robotaxi offering was associated with autonomous vehicles from WeRide.
The Baidu-Uber partnership brings the two ecosystems together.
For journeys within the supported service area, passengers can potentially be matched with an Apollo Go autonomous vehicle when requesting an eligible Uber trip. Uber says riders can access the service through **UberX or Comfort**, or select the dedicated **Autonomous** option where available. ([Uber Investor Relations](https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-details/2026/Baidu-and-Uber-Partner-to-Bring-Apollo-Go-Autonomous-Ride-hailing-to-Dubai-in-Collaboration-with-Dubais-Roads-and-Transport-Authority/default.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
This means passengers do not necessarily need a separate autonomous-vehicle platform to experience Baidu’s robotaxis.
## **Are the Apollo Go taxis really driverless?**
Yes. Apollo Go’s Dubai deployment is designed around fully autonomous vehicles without a conventional safety driver operating the vehicle.
Dubai RTA granted Baidu Apollo Go the emirate’s first permit authorising trials of fully autonomous vehicles on designated public roads **without a safety driver behind the wheel**. ([RTA](https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/news-and-media/all-news/NewsDetails/al-tayer-and-wang-launch-autonomous-vehicles-operations-and-control-centre?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
This followed earlier testing involving safety personnel as Dubai gradually moved from trials towards commercial autonomous transport.
The Apollo Go RT6 is purpose-built for autonomous ride-hailing rather than being a conventional taxi retrofitted with self-driving technology.
## **Where can you book a driverless taxi?**
The initial commercial autonomous taxi service is concentrated around:
- Jumeirah - Umm Suqeim
These coastal districts include residential communities, hotels, restaurants and public beaches, providing a varied real-world environment for autonomous operations.
RTA confirmed in March that autonomous taxi commercial operations were available in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah through the Uber and Apollo Go platforms. ([RTA](https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/news-and-media/all-news/NewsDetails/launching-commercial-operations-of-the-autonomous-taxi-service-in-umm-suqeim-and-jumeirah?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Coverage is expected to expand gradually rather than becoming available across the entire city immediately.
## **How do you request an Apollo Go through Uber?**
For a journey that begins and ends within an eligible service area:
Open the Uber app and enter your destination.
Check the available ride categories.
Select **Autonomous** if the option appears, or request an eligible UberX or Comfort journey.
Depending on vehicle availability, your trip may be matched with an Apollo Go robotaxi.
Confirm the vehicle details in the app before entering.
Because the fleet and operating area are still limited, requesting an autonomous journey does not necessarily mean an Apollo Go vehicle will always be available.
## **What is the Apollo Go RT6?**
The **RT6** is Baidu Apollo Go’s sixth-generation autonomous vehicle and was developed specifically for driverless mobility services.
According to RTA, the vehicle uses an integrated system combining artificial intelligence, sensing technologies and autonomous decision-making.
The RT6 is equipped with **more than 40 sensors**, including:
- High-precision LiDAR - Multi-band radar - Advanced cameras - Surrounding environmental sensors
These systems continuously monitor the road environment and help the vehicle identify pedestrians, other cars, lane markings, traffic signals and potential obstacles. ([RTA](https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/news-and-media/AllProjects/ProjectDetails/launching%2Bthe%2Bofficial%2Boperations%2Bof%2Bdriverless%2Btaxi%2Bservice?projid=Launching+the+Official+Operations+of+Driverless+Taxi+Service&utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **What happens inside a driverless taxi?**
A fully autonomous ride differs slightly from entering a conventional taxi.
There is no driver to confirm your destination or begin the journey manually. Instead, the trip is managed digitally through the ride-hailing platform and the vehicle’s autonomous systems.
Passengers should follow the instructions displayed in the app and inside the vehicle.
Depending on the operating system, this may include confirming the ride, fastening seat belts and using passenger controls to begin or manage the journey.
Remote operational support can also be available if assistance is required.
## **How experienced is Apollo Go?**
Apollo Go is one of the world’s largest autonomous ride-hailing operators.
By January 2026, RTA said Apollo Go vehicles had completed more than **240 million kilometres of autonomous driving**, including over **140 million kilometres in fully driverless mode without a human driver**.
Its cumulative ride count had exceeded **17 million journeys as of October 31, 2025**, while weekly ride volume had surpassed 250,000 trips. ([RTA](https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/news-and-media/all-news/NewsDetails/al-tayer-and-wang-launch-autonomous-vehicles-operations-and-control-centre?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Dubai represents an important part of the company’s international expansion.
## **Dubai is Apollo Go’s major expansion outside China**
Baidu and RTA began preparing for the service well before the commercial launch.
In 2025, the two sides announced plans to introduce an initial fleet of **50 RT6 autonomous vehicles** for testing in Dubai.
The longer-term plan outlined by RTA was to gradually expand the Apollo Go fleet to as many as **1,000 autonomous taxis over three years**, subject to operational performance, efficiency and service-quality requirements. ([RTA](https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/news-and-media/all-news/NewsDetails/signing-mou-to-launch-operational-trials-of-50-autonomous-taxis-in-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Dubai also became home to Apollo Go’s first autonomous vehicle operations and control centre outside China.
The 2,000-square-metre facility at Dubai Science Park includes simulation, training, operations and maintenance capabilities. ([RTA](https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/news-and-media/all-news/NewsDetails/al-tayer-and-wang-launch-autonomous-vehicles-operations-and-control-centre?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **Apollo Go is not Dubai’s only robotaxi**
Dubai is deliberately working with multiple autonomous-driving companies rather than relying on a single provider.
WeRide also operates fully driverless robotaxis through Uber in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim.
Commercial fully driverless WeRide operations began in March 2026 following a supervised public trial launched in December 2025. ([Uber Investor Relations](https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-details/2026/WeRide-and-Uber-Launch-Fully-Driverless-Robotaxi-Fare-Charging-Operations-in-Dubai-Accelerating-Autonomous-Mobility-in-the-Middle-East-2026-NSiF0EFKhd/default.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
This means Uber’s autonomous vehicle ecosystem in Dubai can eventually include vehicles from different technology providers.
For passengers, the important detail is to check the vehicle information shown in the Uber app before starting the journey.
## **Why Dubai is introducing robotaxis**
The programme is part of the **Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy**.
Dubai aims for **25% of all transportation trips to be autonomous by 2030**. ([Uber Investor Relations](https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-details/2026/Baidu-and-Uber-Partner-to-Bring-Apollo-Go-Autonomous-Ride-hailing-to-Dubai-in-Collaboration-with-Dubais-Roads-and-Transport-Authority/default.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Robotaxis could contribute to that goal by expanding autonomous transport beyond Metro and other fixed public transport systems.
They may eventually provide useful first- and last-mile connections between homes, workplaces, Metro stations, shopping areas and other destinations.
## **Could robotaxis improve road safety?**
Safety is one of the main arguments behind Dubai’s autonomous transport programme.
Autonomous vehicles use cameras, radar, LiDAR and software to continuously observe their surroundings without becoming tired or distracted.
However, deploying fully autonomous vehicles in a complex city environment also requires extensive testing, regulation, mapping and monitoring.
Dubai has therefore introduced the technology in stages, beginning with controlled trials, progressing to supervised passenger journeys and then moving towards fully driverless commercial operations.
## **Will autonomous taxis replace regular Dubai taxis?**
Not in the immediate future.
Dubai continues to operate a large conventional taxi and ride-hailing network, and autonomous vehicles currently represent only a small part of the overall fleet.
The initial robotaxi rollout is limited geographically and is intended to expand gradually.
For most journeys across Dubai, passengers will continue using conventional taxis and human-driven ride-hailing vehicles.
The more likely near-term scenario is a mixed network in which conventional and autonomous vehicles operate alongside one another.
## **What could happen next?**
The next major step will be expanding the geographical area where robotaxis can operate.
Baidu and Uber said the Apollo Go deployment would expand based on **operational learnings and regulatory approvals**. ([Uber Investor Relations](https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-details/2026/Baidu-and-Uber-Partner-to-Bring-Apollo-Go-Autonomous-Ride-hailing-to-Dubai-in-Collaboration-with-Dubais-Roads-and-Transport-Authority/default.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
RTA’s broader autonomous transport plans also involve gradually increasing fleet sizes and integrating driverless vehicles with Dubai’s existing public transport network.
As the technology develops, residents could eventually see autonomous taxis operating across a much larger part of the city.
## **Why this matters**
Dubai’s robotaxi programme is moving beyond demonstrations and controlled testing into something residents and visitors can actually use.
Making Apollo Go available through Uber is particularly significant because it puts autonomous vehicles inside an app already familiar to millions of passengers.
Instead of downloading a specialist robotaxi platform, eligible riders can potentially encounter a fully driverless vehicle as part of an ordinary ride-hailing journey.
For now, availability remains limited to selected areas and depends on vehicle supply. But Dubai is steadily building the infrastructure, regulations and commercial partnerships needed to make autonomous taxis a normal part of the city’s transport system.
## **FAQs**
### **Can I book a Baidu Apollo Go robotaxi through Uber in Dubai?**
Yes. Uber and Baidu have partnered to make Apollo Go autonomous vehicles available through the Uber platform in selected Dubai service areas. ([Uber Investor Relations](https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-details/2026/Baidu-and-Uber-Partner-to-Bring-Apollo-Go-Autonomous-Ride-hailing-to-Dubai-in-Collaboration-with-Dubais-Roads-and-Transport-Authority/default.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **Where are Dubai’s autonomous taxis operating?**
Commercial services initially cover **Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim**. ([RTA](https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/news-and-media/all-news/NewsDetails/launching-commercial-operations-of-the-autonomous-taxi-service-in-umm-suqeim-and-jumeirah?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **Is there a driver inside Apollo Go?**
The Apollo Go programme includes fully autonomous operation without a safety driver behind the wheel. RTA granted Baidu a permit allowing fully driverless trials on designated Dubai roads as part of the transition to commercial service. ([RTA](https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/news-and-media/all-news/NewsDetails/al-tayer-and-wang-launch-autonomous-vehicles-operations-and-control-centre?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **How do I find a robotaxi on Uber?**
Check for the **Autonomous** ride option in the Uber app when travelling within the supported area. Eligible UberX and Comfort journeys may also be matched with an Apollo Go vehicle. ([Uber Investor Relations](https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-details/2026/Baidu-and-Uber-Partner-to-Bring-Apollo-Go-Autonomous-Ride-hailing-to-Dubai-in-Collaboration-with-Dubais-Roads-and-Transport-Authority/default.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **What car does Apollo Go use in Dubai?**
Apollo Go uses its purpose-built **RT6 autonomous taxi**, equipped with more than 40 sensors including LiDAR, radar and cameras. ([RTA](https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/news-and-media/AllProjects/ProjectDetails/launching%2Bthe%2Bofficial%2Boperations%2Bof%2Bdriverless%2Btaxi%2Bservice?projid=Launching+the+Official+Operations+of+Driverless+Taxi+Service&utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **Are WeRide robotaxis also available in Dubai?**
Yes. WeRide operates fully driverless robotaxis through Uber in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim. ([Uber Investor Relations](https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-details/2026/WeRide-and-Uber-Launch-Fully-Driverless-Robotaxi-Fare-Charging-Operations-in-Dubai-Accelerating-Autonomous-Mobility-in-the-Middle-East-2026-NSiF0EFKhd/default.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **Will robotaxis expand to other parts of Dubai?**
Yes. Expansion is planned progressively, subject to operational results and regulatory approval. Baidu’s earlier agreement with RTA outlined plans to scale its fleet towards 1,000 autonomous taxis over three years. ([RTA](https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/news-and-media/all-news/NewsDetails/signing-mou-to-launch-operational-trials-of-50-autonomous-taxis-in-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
### **What is Dubai’s target for autonomous transport?**
Dubai aims to make **25% of all transportation trips autonomous by 2030**. ([Uber Investor Relations](https://investor.uber.com/news-events/news/press-release-details/2026/Baidu-and-Uber-Partner-to-Bring-Apollo-Go-Autonomous-Ride-hailing-to-Dubai-in-Collaboration-with-Dubais-Roads-and-Transport-Authority/default.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
## **Source Credits**
Information source and resource owners: Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Government of Dubai Media Office, Baidu Apollo Go and Uber Technologies.
## **Image Credits**
Image sources are combined from AI-generated visuals and other platforms. If any owner wants to be mentioned or any content needs to be changed, please email us at **concerns@whatmatters.ae**.