Baidu launches driverless ride-hailing service in Dubai

Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) launched a fully driverless commercial ride-hailing service in Dubai through its Apollo Go platform, marking the company's first international app deployment. The service operates in partnership with Dubai Taxi Company and the Roads and Transport Authority.

The Apollo Go app is now available to Dubai residents and visitors for booking autonomous rides. This launch represents part of Baidu's plan announced in March 2025 to deploy more than 1,000 autonomous vehicles in Dubai over the coming years.

In January 2026, Apollo Go received Dubai's first driverless testing permit for fully autonomous vehicles without a safety driver. The same month, Baidu opened the Apollo Go Park in Dubai as its first overseas operations and management hub.

"Our partnership with DTC represents a new chapter for autonomous mobility in Dubai," said Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of Overseas Business Unit, Intelligent Driving Group.

Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi, Group CEO of Dubai Taxi Company, said the initiative aligns with Dubai's goal of transforming 25% of transportation trips into smart and driverless journeys by 2030.

As of February 2026, Apollo Go has completed over 20 million rides worldwide, with weekly rides reaching more than 300,000 during the fourth quarter of 2025. The platform's fleets have accumulated over 300 million autonomous kilometers, including more than 190 million kilometers of fully driverless operations.

Dubai Taxi Company operates more than 11,000 vehicles, including over 6,200 taxis, and holds approximately 45% market share in Dubai's taxi market. In 2025, the company's taxis and limousines completed 53 million trips.

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