Dubai Grants First Self-Driving Permits to Chinese Firms
▼ Summary
– Dubai aims to convert 25% of all mobility journeys into autonomous trips by 2030 as part of its Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy.
– The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has granted permits to three Chinese companies—Baidu’s Apollo Go, WeRide, and Pony.ai—to conduct autonomous driving trials on Dubai’s roads.
– These companies have begun pilot operations with over 60 self-driving vehicles in the Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim areas.
– A commercial self-driving taxi service, operating without a driver, is scheduled to launch in 2026 under the unified brand name ‘Dubai Future Ride’.
– This initiative supports Dubai’s goal to adopt autonomous mobility solutions and reinforce its position as a global leader in smart mobility.
Dubai has officially issued its first-ever permits for autonomous vehicle trials to three prominent Chinese technology firms, marking a pivotal moment in the city’s ambitious plan to transform urban mobility. This landmark decision by the Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) allows Baidu’s Apollo Go, WeRide, and Pony.ai to begin testing their self-driving vehicles on public roads across the emirate. The move is a critical component of the broader Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which has set a target for a quarter of all trips in the city to be autonomous by 2030.
The permits enable these companies to deploy their vehicles for real-world testing, ensuring the technology can adapt to Dubai’s unique urban environment. By partnering with these global leaders in autonomous driving, the RTA aims to co-develop a new benchmark for smart mobility. This collaboration is expected to significantly accelerate the implementation of self-driving services, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a forward-thinking hub for technological innovation.
These trials build upon formal agreements signed earlier this year, ensuring the project stays on schedule. The ultimate goal is the timely launch of a fully autonomous taxi service. During the recent Dubai World Self-Driving Transport Exhibition, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was updated on the progress. The briefing confirmed that pilot operations involving over 60 self-driving vehicles are already underway in the Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim areas.
The service is slated for a commercial launch in 2026, operating without a safety driver. His Highness was also presented with the unified visual identity for all self-driving vehicles in Dubai, which will operate under the name ‘Dubai Future Ride’. These vehicles are designed to offer passengers a unique experience, featuring interactive entertainment screens powered by artificial intelligence. This initiative represents a key step in the emirate’s continuous development across all sectors, solidifying its global leadership in adopting next-generation mobility solutions.
(Source: Economy Middle East)
