Baidu Inc. announced that its autonomous ride-hailing platform, Apollo Go, in partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has launched a fully driverless commercial ride-hailing service in Dubai via the Apollo Go app, marking the platform's first international app deployment and a major milestone in the region. The Apollo Go app is now available in Dubai, allowing residents and visitors to hail fully driverless rides. This launch represents a significant step forward in Apollo Go's plan ?
announced in March 2025 ? to deploy a fleet of more than 1,000 autonomous vehicles in Dubai over the next few years. The collaboration with DubaiTaxi Company (DTC) further strengthens local operations and underscores the commercialization of fully autonomous mobility in the emirate.
This commercial launch follows a key milestone earlier this year. In January 2026, Apollo Go received Dubai's first-ever driverless testing permit for fully autonomous vehicles without a safety driver. This regulatory approval enables Baidu to operate fully autonomous ride-hailing services in Dubai in the first quarter of 2026, positioning the city as a strategic hub for autonomous mobility innovation.
Also in January 2026, Baidu inaugurated the Apollo Go Park in Dubai, which serves as the company's first overseas operations and management hub, supporting plans for a fleet of over 1,000 autonomous vehicles in the coming years. Dubai marks a key strategic hub in Apollo Go's growing global network, as it continues to expand its footprint worldwide. As of February 2026, Apollo Go has completed over 20 million rides worldwide, with weekly rides peaking at more than 300,000 during Fourth Quarter 2025.
Its fleets have accumulated over 300 million autonomous kilometers, including more than 190 million kilometers of fully driverless operations, with an outstanding safety record.
