Dubai has inaugurated its first dedicated hub for fully driverless taxi services, signalling a significant step in its plan to become a global leader in autonomous mobility with plans to operate a fleet of 1,000 vehicles by 2026.
Dubai has recently opened the Baidu Apollo Go Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre at Dubai Science Park. This facility, spanning 2,000 square meters, is described by the company as its first outside China and marks the emirate’s very first dedicated hub for fully driverless taxi services. As reported by The Filipino Times, the inauguration took place last Thursday and was attended by key officials including His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), along with Yunpeng Wang, Baidu’s Corporate Vice President and head of its Intelligent Driving Group.
This new center combines a command and control room, spaces for simulation and training, as well as operations and maintenance bays. It’s outfitted for tasks such as safety testing, software updates, vehicle charging, repairs, and rapid operational responses. What’s more, the RTA granted Baidu Apollo Go Dubai’s first permit that allows fully autonomous vehicles to operate on designated public roads without the need for a safety driver behind the wheel. The plan is for commercial autonomous ride-hailing services to start early in 2026, with the fleet gradually expanding up to 1,000 vehicles. These details are from the RTA and have been echoed in reports from Gulf News and the authority’s official press releases.
Mattar Al Tayer called the launch a significant milestone. “The establishment of Apollo Go’s first operations center outside China really shows how confident global companies are in Dubai’s progressive regulatory setup and smart infrastructure,” he said, according to The Filipino Times. He also mentioned that the permit for driverless trials without a safety driver underlines Dubai’s goal to foster an innovative legal framework that attracts leading global players.
The center is part of a phased rollout that kicked off with a strategic partnership agreement signed in March 2025 between Apollo Go and the RTA. The RTA granted an initial autonomous driving trial permit in July 2025, and by August, they began testing a fleet of 50 RT6 vehicles. Now, both the company and Dubai’s transport authorities are aiming to move from these trials to commercial operations early this year, as Gulf News and the RTA have indicated.
Baidu and its Apollo Go unit see this expansion as part of a quick international push. According to company materials shared via PR Newswire, Apollo Go has navigated over 240 million autonomous kilometers, with more than 140 million of those being driverless miles. The service reportedly completed over 17 million rides by October 31, 2025, and is operational in 22 cities, averaging over 250,000 rides weekly. These figures, released by the company, serve to demonstrate its operational background, and to show regulators and partners that it’s ready for wider deployment.
Industry insiders note that Dubai’s approach seems to mix technological ambition with smart regulation and infrastructure development. Local government communications emphasize seamless integration with intelligent road systems, charging infrastructure, and maintenance facilities inside the new hub. The RTA emphasizes that this facility is crucial for daily vehicle operations, inspections, fleet maintenance, and training of safety personnel.
Themes of sustainability and system design also come up often in regional coverage. Gulf Today reports that the Dubai RT6 robotaxis are fully electric, made with Chinese components, and feature layered redundancies across mechanical, electrical, and sensor systems. Company executives quoted in regional media explain that the vehicles come equipped with LiDAR and other advanced sensors, backup systems, and passenger interfaces that enable in-car control of climate and other functions. They also mentioned plans for a booking app and potential partnerships with local transport providers.
Of course, some claims warrant a bit of healthy skepticism. The miles driven and ridership stats for Apollo Go are based on company reports, and independent validation is somewhat limited in public sources. While Dubai’s legalization of driverless testing provides a clear path forward, the actual rollout will still depend heavily on safety results, regulatory oversight, and public acceptance, especially as they scale up operations on busy urban roads.
Dubai’s broader ambitions regarding autonomous mobility stretch beyond just one service provider. Gulf Today quotes an RTA official saying that three international firms, Baidu, Waymo, and KONE, will operate autonomous vehicles within the emirate, and that various autonomous modes will eventually be integrated with the Dubai Metro. There’s also a plan to develop a dedicated “Dubai Autonomous Transportation District,” covering a 15-square-kilometer zone, designed to accommodate different autonomous transport modes like buses and smart ferries.
For Dubai’s local climate and tech scene, the arrival of a major robotaxi operator signals both potential risks and exciting opportunities. Autonomous electric fleets could cut down on emissions, especially if they replace traditional internal combustion engine trips and if the electricity used is decarbonized. On the flip side, they could also lead to more vehicle miles traveled, given that lower per-trip costs might encourage higher trip demand. The new operations center, with its charging and maintenance capabilities, will serve as a testing ground for these dynamics, particularly relevant in a city that prioritizes sustainability alongside its smart city initiatives.
As Apollo Go advances toward full commercial service, regulators and independent analysts will be carefully monitoring safety data, service reliability, and environmental impacts. The opening of this center is a crucial step, both administratively and technically. Whether Dubai’s bold plan to scale up to a fleet of 1,000 vehicles succeeds will hinge on safety performance, how smoothly it integrates with the local infrastructure, and how regulators strike a balance between fostering innovation and ensuring oversight. As stated by the RTA, and detailed by Gulf News, this launch aims to speed up that process, positioning Dubai as a leading hub for AI-driven urban mobility.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://filipinotimes.net/latest-news/2026/01/09/dubai-opens-first-driverless-taxi-control-center-as-city-accelerates-autonomous-mobility/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://gulfnews.com/uae/transport/dubai-opens-first-driverless-taxi-control-centre-first-permit-issued-1.500401882 – Dubai has inaugurated Baidu Apollo Go’s Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre, marking the Chinese tech company’s first facility outside China and the emirate’s first dedicated hub for fully driverless taxi operations. The 2,000-square-metre centre at Dubai Science Park was opened by Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and Yunpeng Wang, Corporate Vice President of Baidu and President of Baidu’s Intelligent Driving Group. Commercial autonomous ride-hailing operations are set to begin in the first quarter of 2026, with the fleet gradually expanding to 1,000 vehicles. The facility serves as a central hub for autonomous vehicle management, integrating a command-and-control centre, simulation and training rooms, and an operations and maintenance facility. It is equipped for safety testing, software updates, charging and maintenance, and rapid response to operational commands. Baidu Apollo Go has also received Dubai’s first permit allowing fully autonomous vehicles to operate on designated public roads without a safety driver behind the wheel. During the inauguration, Al Tayer was briefed on the centre’s advanced capabilities, including intelligent road infrastructure integration, charging and maintenance systems, and technologies to support large-scale autonomous operations. The facility manages daily vehicle operations, inspections, fleet maintenance, and supports safety drivers in training, safety awareness, and operational readiness. The launch builds on a March 2025 Memorandum of Understanding between RTA and Baidu Apollo Go to enable large-scale autonomous taxi operations in Dubai. This was followed by the issuance of the emirate’s first autonomous driving trial permit in July 2025 and the launch of trials with 50 RT6 autonomous vehicles a month later. Al Tayer hailed the opening as a milestone in Dubai’s smart mobility journey. “The establishment of Apollo Go’s first operations centre outside China demonstrates the confidence of global companies in Dubai’s advanced regulatory environment and smart infrastructure, enabling autonomous vehicle technologies to operate safely and efficiently,” he said. He added that the issuance of Dubai’s first permit for fully driverless trials without a safety driver marks a significant step in creating a flexible, innovation-friendly legal framework, fostering partnerships with leading global companies, and supporting the rapid advancement of autonomous mobility.
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baidus-apollo-go-secures-dubais-first-fully-driverless-testing-permit-launches-local-operations-hub-302654927.html – Baidu’s Apollo Go has received Dubai’s first driverless vehicle trial permit from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The permit allows Apollo Go to operate fully autonomous vehicles on designated public roads without a human safety driver behind the wheel, marking a critical step toward launching a fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in Dubai as early as the first quarter of 2026. The new Apollo Go Park in Dubai becomes Apollo Go’s first overseas operations and management hub, supporting a planned 1,000-vehicle fleet target in the coming years. This progress is built on the strategic cooperation agreement signed between Apollo Go and the RTA in March 2025 to advance autonomous driving testing and services in Dubai. In July 2025, the RTA granted Apollo Go the emirate’s first autonomous driving trial permit and an initial batch of 50 autonomous driving test licenses. Since August, Apollo Go has been conducting trials of a 50-vehicle RT6 fleet on designated public roads in Dubai. Apollo Go’s rapid expansion into the UAE is backed by its industry-leading autonomous driving technology and proven real-world operational expertise. As a leading autonomous ride-hailing service provider globally, Apollo Go has logged more than 240 million autonomous kilometers, of which over 140 million kilometers were completed in fully driverless mode. With a global footprint across 22 cities, Apollo Go’s weekly ride count has recently surpassed 250,000, and the service has completed more than 17 million cumulative rides as of October 31, 2025.
- https://www.rta.ae/wps/portal/rta/ae/home/news-and-media/all-news/NewsDetails/al-tayer-and-wang-launch-autonomous-vehicles-operations-and-control-centre – His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and Mr. Yunpeng Wang, Corporate Vice President of Baidu and President of Baidu’s Intelligent Driving Group, inaugurated Baidu Apollo Go’s Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre at Dubai Science Park. The facility marks Baidu Apollo Go’s first centre outside China. Spanning an area of 2,000 square metres, the centre is designed as a comprehensive hub for managing infrastructure resources, services, and internet-based applications, in addition to a simulation room, a training room, and an operations and maintenance centre. RTA granted Baidu Apollo Go Dubai’s first permit of its kind, authorising the company to conduct trials of fully autonomous vehicles on designated public roads without a safety driver behind the wheel. In July 2025, the company obtained the emirate’s first autonomous driving trial permit to conduct operational trials of autonomous vehicles. Since August, over 50 RT6 autonomous vehicles have been navigating designated roads in the emirate as part of operational trials. Commercial operations are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026. The centre is designed as a fully integrated hub for autonomous vehicles, integrating intelligent road infrastructure, charging and maintenance facilities, and related technologies.
- https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2025/09/25/dubai-grants-first-permit-to-operate-self-driving-electric-robo-taxis – Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that Baidu Apollo GO has been granted the first permit to pilot autonomous taxi services in the emirate. The Authority has also issued 50 licences for testing on public roads, paving the way for the fleet to gradually expand to 1,000 fully electric vehicles by 2028. This is all part of Dubai’s plan to transition to smart, sustainable transport. Liang Zhang, General Manager for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region at Apollo Go, explained that actual trials of the sixth-generation (RT6) vehicles began on the streets of Jumeirah and selected areas in Dubai last August. He noted that this is the first time the fleet has been authorised to operate outside China and Hong Kong. Zhang added, “This permit represents a historic moment in the development of smart transportation, establishing Dubai as a global leader in autonomous driving.” “We took a tour in one of the autonomous vehicles, which travelled safely and smoothly through the Jumeirah area. Although a driver was present, the vehicle navigated based on precise coordinates provided via a smart application, with no direct intervention required.” “We were given an in-depth look at the vehicle’s capabilities, its high level of safety and how it interacts seamlessly with passengers through its smart systems,” Zhang said. Liam Jung, the managing director of Apollo Go, confirmed that the new vehicles are 100% electric and designed to advanced standards. They are also made entirely from Chinese components. He added that they are currently the only vehicles to offer all the features of an automated taxi. They are equipped with smart screens that allow passengers to control all of the vehicle’s features at the push of a button, including adjusting the temperature, starting the engine, activating health protection systems and operating autonomous driving. This ensures a safe and comfortable experience. He added that the vehicle’s structure is based on three levels: mechanical components, operational and electrical systems, and advanced sensors and software such as LiDAR systems. The vehicle is also equipped with integrated backup systems to enhance safety. He also revealed that they are developing a smart application for booking ‘robo-taxis’, similar to global transportation apps, and are exploring the possibility of cooperating with local partners, such as Uber, to expand the service. Khalid Al Awadhi, Director of Transportation Systems at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), revealed that three international companies will operate autonomous vehicles: Baidu, Waymo and KONE, announcing that commercial operations will begin in the first quarter of next year. He added that the Dubai World Autonomous Transportation Conference saw the launch of the ‘Dubai Autonomous Transportation District’, a 15-square-kilometre area comprising six modes of autonomous transport, including buses and smart ferries integrated with the Dubai Metro network. Apollo Go is the world’s largest operator of autonomous vehicle fleets. To date, it has logged over 200 million kilometres of safe driving and completed 10 million autonomous trips in various Chinese cities. Its entry into the Dubai market represents a significant international expansion for the global smart transportation movement.
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baidus-apollo-go-enters-strategic-partnership-with-dubai-rta-to-deploy-robotaxis-in-dubai-302414511.html – Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888) today announced that its autonomous ride-hailing platform, Apollo Go, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai to launch autonomous driving testing and services in the city. This marks Apollo Go’s first international fleet deployment outside of mainland China and Hong Kong, and its first entry into the Middle East. As part of the agreement, Apollo Go will deploy 100 fully autonomous vehicles in urban Dubai by the end of 2025, using its 6th-generation, purpose-built RT6 robotaxi, with plans to scale the fleet to no fewer than 1,000 by 2028. The announcement of the collaboration came one month after Robin Li, co-founder and CEO of Baidu, attended the World Governments Summit in Dubai in February 2025 and met with local leaders. The agreement with the RTA underscores the UAE government’s strong trust and support for Apollo Go’s technology and vision. This partnership is the latest milestone in Apollo Go’s global expansion, after it was granted the first autonomous driving test licenses in Hong Kong in November 2024, Apollo Go’s first entry into a right-hand-drive market. Having begun testing in Hong Kong, Apollo Go has now chosen Dubai as the first official international market outside China to deploy a fleet as the company rapidly expands its global footprint. As Apollo Go continues to scale internationally, the company remains committed to delivering safe, green, and intelligent mobility services in collaboration with global partners to drive the future of urban transportation — making cities smarter, more connected, and ready for the autonomous era.
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:
10
Notes:
The narrative is based on a press release dated January 7, 2026, announcing the opening of Baidu Apollo Go’s Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre in Dubai. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is January 8, 2026, with reports from Gulf News and Khaleej Times. The narrative appears to be original and not recycled from other sources. The press release format typically warrants a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer and Yunpeng Wang. A search reveals that these quotes are unique to this press release and do not appear in earlier material, indicating original content.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from a press release issued by Baidu, a reputable organisation. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai also issued a press release on January 8, 2026, confirming the inauguration of the centre. This corroborates the information and enhances the reliability of the narrative.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about the opening of the Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre in Dubai and the issuance of Dubai’s first driverless vehicle trial permit are corroborated by multiple reputable sources, including Gulf News and Khaleej Times. The details about the centre’s facilities and the plans for commercial autonomous ride-hailing services align with the information provided in the narrative.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is based on a recent press release from Baidu, detailing the opening of the Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre in Dubai. The information is corroborated by multiple reputable sources, and the quotes are unique to this release, indicating originality. There are no significant discrepancies or concerns regarding the content’s freshness, reliability, or plausibility.
