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.
UAE officials announced plans at the AI Everything 2026 summit to deploy thousands of autonomous taxis and delivery vehicles by 2027. The country aims to become the largest deployer of robotaxis outside China, leveraging expansions by Chinese autonomous driving firms including Baidu Apollo Go, Momenta, and WeRide.
More than 10,000 autonomous taxis and delivery vans are expected to operate across the UAE next year, with procurement orders already placed. According to a senior UAE official speaking at the AI Everything Abu Dhabi summit, the rollout would position the UAE as the largest operator of autonomous taxis and vans outside China.
Autonomous delivery vehicles and robotaxis are expanding across the UAE, with officials projecting thousands of autonomous taxis in operation by next year. Speaking at the AI Everything 2026 summit, officials stated the UAE aims to become the largest deployer of autonomous taxis outside China. Abu Dhabi is also targeting becoming an AI-native government by 2027.
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