Dubai has begun rolling out commercial driverless taxis, in a move officials say marks a significant step towards fully autonomous urban transport.

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Dubai Taxi Company said it has partnered with Baidu to introduce the service through the latter’s autonomous ride-hailing platform, Apollo Go. The launch also represents the platform’s first international app deployment.

The initiative forms part of Dubai’s wider ambition to transform 25% of all journeys into driverless trips by 2030 under its Self Driving Transport strategy.

An initial fleet of 50 autonomous vehicles will be deployed in the first year, with plans to expand to more than 1,000 vehicles over the coming years. Users will be able to book rides via the Apollo Go app, with integration into other ride-hailing platforms expected as the rollout scales.

Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of its Overseas Business Unit, said: "Our partnership with DTC represents a new chapter for autonomous mobility in Dubai. By combining our cutting-edge technology with DTC’s local expertise, and through the launch of the Apollo Go app, our first international app deployment, we are creating a safe, efficient and scalable ride-hailing service that sets a new standard for the region. We are proud to contribute to Dubai’s vision for smart, future-ready transportation."

Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi, Group CEO of DTC, described the move as a “significant milestone” for the emirate’s transport ambitions.

“Dubai Taxi Company is proud and excited to be among the first entities to roll out the operations of driverless taxis in Dubai, marking a significant milestone in advancing the emirate’s vision for smart and sustainable mobility. This initiative is in line with DTC’s innovation-driven strategy and its commitment to delivering future-ready services that elevate the customer experience. We are grateful to our strategic partner, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), for their unwavering support and the development of a comprehensive infrastructure that enables the seamless deployment of driverless taxis, aligned with the ambition of transforming 25% of all transportation trips into smart and driverless journeys by 2030.”

He added: “We are equally proud to partner with Baidu Inc. to bring this future-forward technology to life, combining global innovation with Dubai’s pioneering spirit. The successful trials conducted over the past few months have demonstrated the vehicles’ readiness, particularly in terms of safety, reliability, and operational efficiency, reinforcing our confidence in scaling this initiative.”

The commercial rollout follows regulatory progress earlier this year, when Apollo Go received Dubai’s first permit to test fully autonomous vehicles without a safety driver. Baidu also launched its Apollo Go Park in the city, its first overseas operations hub.

The company says its global fleet has completed more than 20 million rides to date, highlighting growing momentum behind autonomous mobility worldwide.