RTA grants first permit to operate robo-taxis in Dubai

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.

- Mohammed Yaseen, Staff Reporter

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."