Dubai Gets Driverless Taxis From China's Baidu; Crown Prince Takes A Ride

Dubai has taken the next step towards smart mobility with the launch of official operations of driverless RT6 taxi vehicles developed by Baidu's Apollo Go. The Crown Prince of Dubai, Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, inaugurated the operations by arriving in the autonomous vehicle at the World Governments Summit 2026. This marks the initiation of phased operations that will be expanded by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Expansion Plans

Developed by Apollo Go, functioning under the Chinese firm Baidu, the RT6 vehicle is the sixth generation of the autonomous taxi technology. The technology has been designed for large-scale commercial operations and will have 100 driverless taxis, which will begin their services next month. This is the first phase of the programme, with plans to expand the operations to a fleet of over 1,000 vehicles. The autonomous taxi network can be integrated into the emirate's transportation network at a later stage.

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To aid the expansion plan, Baidu's Apollo Go has launched an autonomous vehicle operations and control center in Dubai. This facility is the company's first of its kind outside of China and supports daily fleet management, continuous vehicle monitoring, software updates, safety evaluations, and quick responses to operational needs. It also assists in maintenance and technical inspections to ensure ongoing performance and safety standards.

Hamdan bin Mohammed launches official operations of driverless taxi service in Dubai. @rta_dubai pic.twitter.com/vTczzMXYW5

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 5, 2026

Sixth-Gen Apollo Go RT6

The RT6 is equipped with over 40 advanced sensors, including high-precision LiDAR systems, multi-band radars, and high-resolution cameras. These technologies enable the vehicle to continuously assess its surroundings, identify obstacles, predict traffic patterns, and adapt in real-time to changing road conditions.

At the core of the autonomous taxi's operations is a software platform that integrates real-time information, high-definition maps, and deep-learning algorithms. This system allows the vehicle to navigate complex urban environments, interact with intersections, pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles, while always adhering to traffic regulations. The firm claims that the system is specifically designed to operate in densely populated urban areas.