Baidu's Apollo Go Commences Fully Driverless Commercial Ride-Hailing in Dubai, Partners with Dubai Taxi Company
- Apollo Go launches a fully driverless commercial ride-hailing service in Dubai via the Apollo Go app, marking the platform's first international app deployment.
- Collaboration with Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) powers Apollo Go's autonomous mobility expansion in the emirate.
DUBAI, UAE, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU) today 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. This comes alongside Apollo Go's strategic collaboration with Dubai Taxi Company (DTC), the emirate's leading mobility service provider, bringing strong local operational expertise to support the service.
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 DTC further strengthens local operations and underscores the commercialization of fully autonomous mobility in the emirate.
"Our partnership with DTC represents a new chapter for autonomous mobility in Dubai. By combining our cutting-edge technology with DTC's local expertise, and through the launch of the Apollo Go app, our first international app deployment, we are creating a safe, efficient and scalable ride-hailing service that sets a new standard for the region. We are proud to contribute to Dubai's vision for smart, future-ready transportation," said Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of Overseas Business Unit, Intelligent Driving Group.
Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi, Group CEO, DTC, said, "Dubai Taxi Company is proud and excited to be among the first entities to roll out the operations of driverless taxis in Dubai, marking a significant milestone in advancing the emirate's vision for smart and sustainable mobility. This initiative is in line with DTC's innovation-driven strategy and its commitment to delivering future-ready services that elevate the customer experience. We are grateful to our strategic partner, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), for their unwavering support and the development of a comprehensive infrastructure that enables the seamless deployment of driverless taxis, aligned with the ambition of transforming 25% of all transportation trips into smart and driverless journeys by 2030."
"We are equally proud to partner with Baidu Inc. to bring this future-forward technology to life, combining global innovation with Dubai's pioneering spirit. The successful trials conducted over the past few months have demonstrated the vehicles' readiness, particularly in terms of safety, reliability, and operational efficiency, reinforcing our confidence in scaling this initiative," he added.
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 Q4 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.
About Baidu
Founded in 2000, Baidu's mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong internet foundation, trading on the NASDAQ under "BIDU" and HKEX under "9888." One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.
About DTC
DTC was recognised as a public joint stock company under Law No. (21) of 2023. The Company is a leading provider of comprehensive mobility solutions in Dubai, operating a fleet of more than 11,000 vehicles, including more than 6,200 taxis. DTC was established in 1994 to operate a fleet of taxis and has since expanded to offer an extensive range of integrated mobility solutions across four key business lines: taxis, VIP limousines, buses and last mile delivery bike services. DTC is the number one taxi operator by fleet size in Dubai with approximately 45% market share. In 2025, the Company's taxis and limousines completed 53 million trips.
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SOURCE Baidu, Inc.