Software, telecommunications and digital infrastructure
Baidu's Apollo Go has secured Dubai's first driverless vehicle testing permit allowing operations without a human safety driver. The company also inaugurated Apollo Go Park in downtown Dubai, its first operations hub outside China. The initiatives support the UAE's plan to partner with Chinese technology leaders to roll out autonomous fleets.
Chinese automaker XPENG has introduced its Kunpeng Super Range Extender technology to the GCC market through a regional test drive tour of its GX SUV. Announced at a media workshop in Dubai, the Grand Xplore Tour will traverse all six GCC member nations starting and ending in the UAE. The GX model features a 63.3 kWh battery and 60-litre fuel tank, delivering up to 1,585 km of combined CLTC range.
Arab nations including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are accelerating institutional and educational cooperation with China under their long-term development strategies. Regional governments are supporting Chinese language departments, research centers, and exchange initiatives to facilitate bilateral investment and trade. Experts report that Arab institutions are increasingly studying China's economic and modernization models to support domestic economic diversification.
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.
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