In a landmark move for the region’s autonomous mobility sector, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has granted Chinese tech giant Baidu Apollo Go the emirate’s first-ever permit to conduct fully driverless vehicle trials on public roads. The announcement coincided with the inauguration of Baidu Apollo Go’s Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre at Dubai Science Park, its first such facility outside of China.
The inauguration was attended by Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, and Yunpeng Wang, Corporate Vice President of Baidu and President of Baidu’s Intelligent Driving Group, marking a significant milestone in Dubai’s journey towards becoming a global hub for smart transportation.
A Landmark Regulatory Milestone
The new permit authorises Baidu Apollo Go to test its autonomous vehicles on designated public roads without a safety driver behind the wheel. This represents a pivotal regulatory step for Dubai, signaling strong institutional confidence in the maturity and safety of Apollo Go’s technology.
This approval is a critical step in the company’s plan to launch a fully integrated commercial autonomous ride-hailing service in Dubai, with a target of the first quarter of 2026. The move reinforces the RTA’s objective to develop a flexible and forward-looking regulatory framework that supports rapid innovation while upholding the highest safety standards.
New Operations Hub in Dubai Science Park
The newly launched Operations and Control Centre spans 2,000 square metres and will serve as the comprehensive operational hub for Baidu’s regional ambitions. The facility is equipped with a simulation room, a training room, and a dedicated operations and maintenance centre, enabling end-to-end oversight of the autonomous vehicle fleet.
This centre will manage the daily operation of vehicles, routine maintenance, charging, software updates, and inspection processes. It aligns with Apollo Go’s long-term vision to expand its autonomous fleet in Dubai to over 1,000 vehicles in the coming years.
Dubai’s Strategic Push for Smart Mobility
Mattar Al Tayer described the launch as a strategic milestone in Dubai’s journey toward consolidating its global leadership in smart mobility and AI-driven transport solutions.
“The opening of Apollo Go’s first operations centre outside China reflects strong confidence among leading global companies in Dubai’s advanced regulatory environment and the readiness of its smart infrastructure to support autonomous vehicle technologies,” said Al Tayer. “Collaboration with Baidu Apollo Go forms part of RTA’s broader vision to expand future mobility solutions and enhance the deployment of autonomous vehicles across taxi and ride-hailing services.”
Baidu’s Commitment to the Region
Baidu executives expressed their commitment to the region, highlighting the new permit and operations centre as a testament to their long-term strategy in the UAE.
“We are honoured that Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has entrusted Apollo Go with the emirate’s first driverless vehicle trial permit,” stated Yunpeng Wang. “Building on our global expertise, we look forward to working closely with RTA and local partners to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable autonomous ride-hailing services, while accelerating Dubai’s transition toward intelligent transportation.”
Liang Zhang, MD for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Baidu Apollo, added that receiving the permit is a testament to the safety of the company’s technology and that the new Apollo Go Park in Dubai creates a strong foundation to localise operations.
About Baidu Apollo Go
Baidu Apollo Go is the autonomous ride-hailing service provided by Chinese technology giant Baidu. Its autonomous vehicles have accumulated over 240 million kilometres in autonomous operation, with more than 140 million kilometres completed in fully driverless mode. Operating in 22 cities globally, Apollo Go’s cumulative completed rides surpassed 17 million as of October 2025.
Source: Gulf Business
