Chinese autonomous vehicle companies are accelerating their commercial operations in the United Arab Emirates in support of Dubai's target to make 25 percent of all transport trips driverless by 2030, according to a Xinhua report. Gulf countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, are actively investing in artificial intelligence and smart-city initiatives.
Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing platform, Apollo Go, launched commercial operations in Dubai in March, adapting its software for high temperatures and local driving conditions. Chen Qiang, Baidu's general manager for intelligent driving business development in the UAE, stated that the country offers supportive regulations, modern infrastructure, and strong demand that enable rapid transitions from testing to commercial deployment.
Guangzhou-based WeRide has deployed more than 200 autonomous vehicles across the Middle East and reports that its operations in the region have achieved profitability. In parallel, Pony.ai is preparing to launch commercial robotaxi services in Dubai later this year, with global communications head Wang Ludi highlighting growing local acceptance of intelligent vehicles.
Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), described China as a global leader in transport infrastructure, digital technology, and artificial intelligence, noting that Dubai is strengthening partnerships with Chinese firms for future transport projects.
Sources
- Xinhua · 2026-09-27
