A Major Step Forward for Autonomous Mobility in Dubai
Baidu, and Uber Technologies, in collaboration with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), have announced a significant expansion of their global strategic partnership with the introduction of the Apollo Go autonomous ride-hailing service on the Uber platform in Dubai. This initiative represents a landmark moment for urban mobility in the Middle East and reinforces Dubai’s position as a global leader in smart transportation, autonomous systems, and next-generation mobility solutions. By integrating Apollo Go’s advanced autonomous driving technology with Uber’s globally recognized ride-hailing platform, the partnership aims to bring safe, efficient, and scalable driverless transportation to everyday commuters and visitors in one of the world’s most forward-thinking cities.
Planned Launch and Initial Deployment Areas
The Apollo Go autonomous ride-hailing service is expected to launch in the coming month, marking the beginning of a phased deployment strategy within Dubai. During the initial rollout, fully autonomous vehicles will be accessible through the Uber app across select locations within the Jumeirah area, a district known for its blend of residential neighborhoods, tourism hubs, and commercial activity. The choice of Jumeirah as the first operational zone reflects a careful approach to balancing real-world traffic complexity with controlled deployment conditions, allowing the partners to gather valuable operational data while delivering a seamless passenger experience. As performance data, safety metrics, and regulatory milestones are achieved, the service footprint is expected to expand progressively to additional districts across the city.
Alignment with Dubai’s Autonomous Transportation Vision
This collaboration directly supports Dubai’s long-term transportation strategy, which aims to ensure that 25% of all transportation trips in the emirate are conducted using autonomous modes by 2030. Dubai has consistently invested in smart infrastructure, advanced regulatory frameworks, and public-private partnerships to accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies across road, air, and maritime transport. The introduction of Apollo Go through Uber complements existing initiatives led by the Roads and Transport Authority, strengthening the city’s ecosystem for innovation while providing residents and visitors with tangible access to cutting-edge mobility solutions. By embedding autonomous ride-hailing into a widely used consumer platform, the partnership helps normalize driverless travel and accelerates public acceptance of autonomous vehicles as a practical, everyday option.
How Passengers Will Access Apollo Go Through Uber
Passengers traveling within the designated service areas will be able to access Apollo Go autonomous vehicles directly through the Uber app. When booking a trip, users may be matched with an Apollo Go vehicle when selecting UberX or Uber Comfort, depending on availability, or they can actively choose an “Autonomous” option where offered. This seamless integration ensures that riders do not need to download a separate application or navigate a new booking process, significantly lowering barriers to adoption. The user experience is designed to be intuitive, familiar, and consistent with existing Uber services, while subtly introducing riders to the future of autonomous mobility through a trusted interface.
Fleet Operations and Management Structure
Fleet operations for the Apollo Go vehicles in Dubai will be managed by New Horizon, a third-party operator responsible for day-to-day logistics, vehicle readiness, and compliance with local operational standards. This model allows Baidu and Uber to focus on technology integration, platform scalability, and customer experience, while ensuring that local operational expertise is applied to fleet management. By working with a dedicated operator, the partnership can maintain high service reliability, safety oversight, and rapid responsiveness to on-the-ground conditions, all of which are critical during the early stages of autonomous deployment in a complex urban environment.
Baidu’s Perspective on Global Expansion
Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of the Overseas Business Unit within Baidu’s Intelligent Driving Group, emphasized the strategic importance of the Dubai launch. He described the integration of Apollo Go into the Uber platform as a pivotal milestone in Baidu’s mission to deliver safe, efficient, and accessible autonomous mobility on a global scale. According to Yang, the Dubai deployment represents a key deliverable stemming from the strategic partnership between Apollo Go and Uber announced in July of the previous year, transforming a shared vision into an operational reality. By leveraging Uber’s extensive global network and user base, Baidu is accelerating the internationalization of Apollo Go and demonstrating the maturity of its autonomous driving technology in a new regulatory and cultural context.
Uber’s Role as a Global Autonomous Platform
From Uber’s perspective, the partnership underscores its ambition to serve as the world’s leading platform for autonomous vehicle deployment at scale. Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous at Uber, highlighted the company’s enthusiasm for expanding its autonomous footprint across Dubai and beyond. Drawing parallels to Uber’s earlier role in introducing electric vehicles to millions of riders worldwide, Maredia noted that Uber aims to play a similar catalytic role in familiarizing consumers with autonomous technology. With more than 20 autonomous vehicle partners already completing millions of autonomous trips annually on the Uber platform, the company positions itself as a critical bridge between AV developers, fleet operators, regulators, and end users.
Building on Previous International Announcements
The Dubai announcement follows closely on the heels of other major international expansion plans revealed by Baidu and Uber. In December, the partners announced their intention to introduce Apollo Go autonomous ride-hailing services in London, marking an important step into a right-hand drive market with complex regulatory and traffic conditions. This was further complemented by the inauguration of Apollo Go Park in Dubai in January, which serves as the company’s first overseas operations and management hub. The establishment of Apollo Go Park not only supports local deployments but also acts as a strategic base for coordinating international expansion, talent development, and cross-market knowledge sharing.
Apollo Go’s Global Track Record and Scale
Apollo Go stands as one of the world’s leading autonomous ride-hailing service providers, supported by a robust track record of large-scale operations and continuous technological refinement. To date, the service has logged more than 240 million autonomous kilometers, a substantial portion of which demonstrates the reliability and resilience of its self-driving systems under diverse real-world conditions. Notably, over 140 million of these kilometers have been completed in fully driverless mode, underscoring the platform’s readiness for commercial deployment without human safety drivers. This depth of operational experience provides a strong foundation for expansion into new international markets such as Dubai.
Rapid Growth in Rides and User Adoption
Apollo Go’s growth trajectory highlights increasing consumer trust and demand for autonomous mobility solutions. Operating across 22 cities globally, the service has seen its weekly ride volume recently surpass 250,000 trips, reflecting both scale and consistency in usage. As of October 31, 2025, Apollo Go has completed more than 17 million cumulative rides, a milestone that places it among the most extensively utilized autonomous ride-hailing services worldwide. These figures illustrate not only technological capability but also operational maturity, customer acceptance, and the effectiveness of Apollo Go’s deployment strategies across varied urban environments.
Safety, Regulation, and Operational Learnings
Safety and regulatory compliance remain central pillars of the Dubai deployment strategy. The phased rollout allows Baidu, Uber, and the RTA to closely monitor vehicle performance, passenger feedback, and system reliability under real-world conditions. Operational learnings gathered during the initial deployment will inform subsequent expansion decisions, vehicle optimization, and service design enhancements. Close collaboration with regulators ensures that the autonomous service evolves in alignment with local laws, safety standards, and public expectations, reinforcing trust among riders and stakeholders alike.
Transforming the Future of Urban Transportation
The introduction of Apollo Go autonomous ride-hailing in Dubai represents more than a single market launch; it signals a broader shift in how cities approach mobility, sustainability, and technological integration. By combining Baidu’s advanced autonomous driving capabilities with Uber’s global platform and Dubai’s visionary transport policies, the partnership creates a powerful model for future urban transportation systems. As the service scales across the city and potentially the wider region, it has the potential to reduce traffic congestion, enhance road safety, and redefine the passenger experience, setting a benchmark for autonomous mobility deployments worldwide.
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