On July 4, 2025, Pony.ai, a leading global autonomous driving technology company, and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) officially unveiled Pony.ai’s Robotaxi in Dubai, marking a significant milestone in their collaborative efforts to advance Level 4 autonomous mobility solutions. The event, attended by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s RTA, alongside Pony.ai’s Chief Financial Officer Dr. Leo Wang, underscored Dubai’s aspiration to embed cutting-edge self-driving technology into its multi-modal transportation network. The partnership aims to shift 25% of all journeys in the city to autonomous trips by 2030, reflecting Dubai’s bold smart city vision.
The collaboration builds on a memorandum of understanding signed earlier in 2025, reinforcing mutual commitments to enhance urban mobility efficiency, reduce traffic congestion, and develop sustainable transport models tailored to Dubai’s dynamic environment. Initial supervised robotaxi trials are planned for later this year, leading to fully driverless operations anticipated in 2026. According to His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, this partnership not only supports Dubai’s strategy to promote autonomous transport but also cements the emirate’s role as a global pioneer in future mobility technologies. He expressed his appreciation for Pony.ai’s choice of Dubai as its international platform outside China, highlighting the city’s strategic importance in the emerging autonomous mobility ecosystem.
Pony.ai’s CFO Dr. Leo Wang emphasised the regional significance of the partnership, stating that aligning the company’s advanced Level 4 autonomous technology with RTA’s visionary leadership sets foundational standards for intelligent transportation across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The partnership aligns with RTA’s strategy to facilitate the integration of transport systems, particularly focusing on first- and last-mile connectivity through autonomous taxis. These developments, according to officials, are expected to improve life quality for residents and visitors alike by enhancing road safety, increasing convenience, and supporting Dubai’s comprehensive mobility framework.
The introduction of Pony.ai’s seventh-generation robotaxi technology, unveiled in April at the Shanghai Auto Show, is pivotal to these plans. This latest model features fully automotive-grade components with improved cost efficiency and adaptable cross-platform performance, rigorously tested to operate reliably in extreme temperature variations akin to Dubai’s desert climate. With a current fleet of approximately 300 robotaxis operating in major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, Pony.ai expects to expand its fleet to 1,000 vehicles by the end of 2025. The company’s extensive operational experience across complex environments—including high-speed rail stations, airports, and dense urban areas—adds significant value to its international expansion strategy.
Beyond Dubai, Pony.ai is actively scaling its autonomous mobility footprint globally. It holds robotaxi permits in key markets including the United States, China, South Korea, and Luxembourg, and has established strategic partnerships with companies like Uber to integrate autonomous services into global ride-hailing platforms. This expansion is part of a wider trend seen among Chinese robotaxi companies, such as Baidu and WeRide, who are eyeing the Gulf region’s favourable regulatory climate and growing demand for autonomous transport services. The Gulf states, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have ambitious targets to increase the share of autonomous journeys—Dubai aims for 25% by 2030, while Saudi Arabia is targeting 15% by the same year—backed by robust infrastructure investment and visionary urban planning.
The Gulf’s strategic push positions it as a competitive hub for autonomous mobility, attracting global players including U.S.-based firms like Tesla and Waymo. However, Chinese companies currently boast more operational experience in robotaxi services, with Baidu alone logging over 10 million trips in China. Pony.ai’s partnership with Dubai RTA highlights the emirate’s proactive approach to remain at the forefront of this transformative technological wave, further integrating autonomous solutions into everyday urban transport to enhance safety, sustainability, and user convenience.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.prnewswire.com/ae/news-releases/ponyai-and-dubai-rta-co-reveal-robotaxi-introduction-marking-accelerated-collaboration-towards-dubais-smart-city-vision-302498648.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.prnewswire.com/ae/news-releases/ponyai-and-dubai-rta-co-reveal-robotaxi-introduction-marking-accelerated-collaboration-towards-dubais-smart-city-vision-302498648.html – On July 4, 2025, Pony.ai and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) unveiled Pony.ai’s Robotaxi in Dubai, solidifying their partnership to advance Level 4 autonomous mobility solutions. The event was attended by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of RTA, and Dr. Leo Wang, CFO of Pony.ai. The collaboration aims to integrate cutting-edge self-driving technology into Dubai’s transportation framework, enhancing urban mobility efficiency, reducing traffic congestion, and establishing sustainable transportation models. The goal is to transform 25% of all journeys in the city into autonomous trips by 2030. Initial supervised robotaxi trials are set to launch in 2025, followed by fully driverless operations in 2026. The partnership underscores Dubai’s commitment to adopting autonomous mobility solutions and reinforces its global leadership in future mobility. Pony.ai’s seventh-generation robotaxis, unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show in April, feature automotive-grade components and have been rigorously tested in extreme temperature fluctuations to ensure safe navigation in local conditions. The company operates a fleet of approximately 300 robotaxi vehicles in major Chinese cities and plans to expand its fleet to 1,000 by the end of this year. The collaboration with Dubai RTA exemplifies Pony.ai’s commitment to deploying Level 4 autonomous technology in strategic global markets, establishing foundational standards for intelligent transportation ecosystems across the MENA region.
- https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/chinese-robotaxi-makers-head-welcoming-gulf-overseas-ambitions-grow-2025-05-28/ – Chinese robotaxi companies, including Pony.ai, Baidu, and WeRide, are expanding into the Gulf region due to favourable regulations and strong demand for autonomous transportation. Pony.ai and WeRide plan to begin trials in Dubai and Saudi cities, with commercial operations targeted for 2025-2026. Baidu is collaborating with Autogo in Abu Dhabi and expects to start by 2026. Dubai and Abu Dhabi aim to have 25% of transport be autonomous by 2030 and 2040, respectively, while Saudi Arabia targets 15% by 2030. The Middle East’s robust infrastructure, capital, and ambition make it a hotspot for this technology. WeRide and Pony.ai have also partnered with Uber to integrate their services into the app. As Chinese robotaxi firms gain international traction, the Gulf may become a competitive arena with U.S. firms like Tesla and Waymo, though Chinese companies currently have more operational experience. Baidu, with over 10 million trips in China, and Pony.ai, supported by Toyota, are also eyeing expansions into Europe and Asia. WeRide targets 15 cities with Uber, highlighting a global push amid global driver shortages.
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 fresh, with the earliest known publication date being July 4, 2025. No earlier versions with different figures, dates, or quotes were found. The content is not recycled or republished across low-quality sites. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. The update may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([prnewswire.com](https://www.prnewswire.com/ae/news-releases/ponyai-and-dubai-rta-co-reveal-robotaxi-introduction-marking-accelerated-collaboration-towards-dubais-smart-city-vision-302498648.html?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The quotes from His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer and Dr. Leo Wang are unique to this narrative, with no earlier matches found. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content. ([prnewswire.com](https://www.prnewswire.com/ae/news-releases/ponyai-and-dubai-rta-co-reveal-robotaxi-introduction-marking-accelerated-collaboration-towards-dubais-smart-city-vision-302498648.html?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from PR Newswire, a reputable press release distribution service. The content is also covered by other reputable outlets, including The National and Reuters, confirming the reliability of the information. ([thenationalnews.com](https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2025/07/06/dubais-rta-and-ponyai-to-trial-autonomous-taxis-and-plan-2026-commercial-roll-out/?utm_source=openai), [reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/chinese-robotaxi-makers-head-welcoming-gulf-overseas-ambitions-grow-2025-05-28/?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about the partnership between Pony.ai and Dubai’s RTA to introduce autonomous robotaxis align with Dubai’s Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to convert 25% of all trips into autonomous journeys by 2030. The timeline for initial trials in 2025 and full driverless operations in 2026 is consistent with industry standards for such technological deployments. ([thenationalnews.com](https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2025/07/06/dubais-rta-and-ponyai-to-trial-autonomous-taxis-and-plan-2026-commercial-roll-out/?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of recycled content. The quotes appear original, and the source is reputable. The claims are plausible and align with Dubai’s strategic goals for autonomous transportation. No significant credibility risks were identified.
