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Chinese Autonomous Driving Firms Launch Commercial Driverless Operations in Dubai

Baidu Apollo Go and WeRide have launched fully driverless commercial operations in Dubai, supporting UAE plans to deploy thousands of autonomous vehicles by 2027. Baidu Apollo has also partnered with Egypt's Ministry of Transport to launch robotaxi trials in Cairo involving 30 vehicles.

Published Source: AI for Developing Countries Forum

Chinese autonomous driving firms Baidu Apollo Go and WeRide launched fully driverless commercial vehicle operations in Dubai in October 2026. The milestone aligns with broader regional initiatives aiming to deploy thousands of autonomous vehicles across the UAE by 2027.

Testing and passenger services have expanded across designated commercial zones in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. UAE transport authorities are collaborating with Chinese technology providers to develop autonomous fleets and smart-mobility infrastructure, with the goal of positioning the UAE as a leading global deployer of commercial robotaxis alongside China.

Separately, Baidu Apollo announced a partnership with Egypt's Ministry of Transport to launch its first African robotaxi trials in Cairo by October 2026. The pilot will deploy 30 autonomous vehicles across selected urban zones to evaluate the performance of artificial intelligence navigation systems in complex traffic environments.

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