Driverless taxis in Dubai by 2026

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced new partnerships with leading autonomous vehicle (AV) companies as it prepares to trial self-driving taxis in the emirate. The initiative involves Uber Technologies and its AV technology partner WeRide, alongside China’s Baidu through its ride-hailing unit, Apollo Go, according to Dubai Media Office.

The trials, expected to begin later this year, will initially involve vehicles operating with a safety driver onboard. A full commercial rollout of driverless taxis is planned for 2026. This move is part of Dubai’s broader Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to make 25% of all journeys in the city autonomous by 2030.

According to RTA, the deployment of autonomous taxis will improve first- and last-mile connectivity and contribute to road safety by reducing accidents caused by human error. The vehicles are also expected to support mobility for senior citizens and people of determination.

Apollo Go has logged over 150 million kilometres of autonomous driving in China and claims to operate the world’s largest driverless fleet, with services in more than 10 cities. Uber and WeRide also view the Dubai initiative as a significant step in expanding their AV operations outside their domestic markets.

These partnerships follow years of autonomous mobility trials in Dubai, which began in 2016 and have since grown in scale and scope. The city has positioned itself as a testbed for emerging transport technologies, reflecting its long-term plans to integrate smart mobility solutions into its urban infrastructure.

The collaborations underscore Dubai’s continued focus on integrating cutting-edge transport systems to improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability across its public and private mobility networks.