7:38 am - February 15, 2026
**Dubai**: The Dubai Taxi Company plans to introduce self-driving taxis by 2026, aiming for autonomous trips to make up 25% of journeys by 2030. Collaborations with global firms and regulatory efforts support Dubai’s leadership in smart, sustainable urban mobility.
The Dubai Taxi Company has announced plans to incorporate self-driving taxis into its extensive fleet as part of a broader initiative supporting Dubai’s smart autonomous mobility strategy. The strategy aims to have autonomous trips account for 25% of all journeys within the emirate by 2030, signalling a substantial shift towards automated transportation.
Mansour Rahma Al Falasi, CEO of Dubai Taxi Company, revealed that the introduction of self-driving taxis is slated to commence commercial operations in Dubai by 2026. Speaking to Emirates Today, he stated, “Dubai Taxi Company is working closely with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to ensure compliance with the highest regulatory, safety, and operational standards.” He further noted that the company is in the process of finalising all technical and operational requirements necessary for this significant transformation.
Currently, the Dubai Taxi Company oversees a vast fleet exceeding 9,500 vehicles. This includes more than 6,200 taxis, 500 limousines, 1,100 buses, and 1,900 delivery bikes, with an emphasis on sustainability as 86% of the fleet is environmentally friendly. This expansion underscores the company’s commitment to evolving alongside technological advancements in transportation.
Parallel to these developments, the Roads and Transport Authority has expanded its collaborations with several leading global firms specialising in autonomous vehicle technologies. Notably, strategic partnerships include Uber Technologies, Inc., which will deploy self-driving vehicles in Dubai via its platform, WeRide, and Baidu’s autonomous driving division Apollo Go. Baidu is recognised as a frontrunner in providing autonomous driving solutions worldwide.
These partnerships are integral to the RTA’s ambition to reinforce Dubai’s status as a pioneer in autonomous mobility and solidify its reputation as one of the smartest cities globally. The RTA’s initiatives fall under Dubai’s smart autonomous mobility strategy, which aspires to have a quarter of all trips executed using autonomous means by 2030. Speaking on the company’s role, Mansour Rahma Al Falasi emphasised, “We are working with ‘Dubai Roads’ (RTA) to ensure compliance with the highest operational standards.”
Operational trials of autonomous vehicles in Dubai began in 2016 and have since grown more varied and sophisticated. This ongoing commitment illustrates a concerted effort by both the Dubai Taxi Company and the RTA to integrate cutting-edge autonomous technologies into the city’s transport infrastructure, positioning Dubai at the forefront of the future of urban mobility.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/markets/2025/02/20/dubai-taxi-company-plans-to-launch-driverless-service-in-2026-ceo-says/ – This article corroborates the plan by Dubai Taxi Company to launch autonomous taxi services by 2026, aligning with Dubai’s mobility strategy. It also highlights the company’s collaboration with the RTA to ensure regulatory and operational compliance.
- https://www.timeoutdubai.com/news/driverless-taxi-dubai-rta – This article supports the upcoming introduction of driverless taxis in Dubai, mentioning that these vehicles will be accessible through Uber’s WeRide platform, aligning with the RTA’s plans for autonomous transportation.
- https://gulfbusiness.com/50-self-driving-taxis-to-hit-dubai-roads-heres-what-to-expect/ – It explains the initial phase of introducing 50 autonomous vehicles in Dubai, which is part of the broader strategy to support the launch of self-driving taxis in 2026.
- https://economymiddleeast.com/news/dubai-set-to-launch-autonomous-taxis-with-50-experimental-vehicles/ – This article details the RTA’s partnership with Baidu’s Apollo Go for deploying autonomous taxis, highlighting the use of 50 vehicles in the testing phase, with plans to expand to 1,000 vehicles.
- https://www.iotworldtoday.com/transportation-logistics/chinese-self-driving-taxis-to-launch-in-dubai-abu-dhabi – It reports on Baidu’s Apollo Go launching a trial of autonomous taxis in Dubai as part of a larger initiative with the RTA, focusing on integrating autonomous technology into Dubai’s transportation landscape.
- https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2024/12/06/uber-launches-its-first-international-driverless-taxi-service-in-the-uae/ – This article mentions Uber’s involvement in launching driverless taxi services in the UAE, aligning with Dubai’s emphasis on integrating autonomous vehicles into its transportation network.
- https://www.emaratalyoum.com/local-section/other/2025-04-28-1.1939919 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative mentions specific plans for 2026 and ongoing partnerships, indicating recent and relevant information.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
While a direct quote from Mansour Rahma Al Falasi is provided, no clear origin of the quote beyond ‘Emirates Today’ was found. The lack of previous reference suggests it might be original.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable publication in the UAE, but specific details about the publication’s reliability are not provided here.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The plans described align with Dubai’s ongoing focus on technological advancements and smart city initiatives. However, specific details about operational timelines may require further verification.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears fresh and plausible, aligning with Dubai’s technological ambitions. While source reliability and quote verification are somewhat limited, the overall information seems trustworthy.
