Uber passengers in parts of Dubai can now experience rides without a human behind the wheel, following the launch of Baidu’s fully driverless Apollo Go robotaxis on the ride-hailing platform.
The development brings together two major technology companies as autonomous vehicles move closer to becoming part of everyday urban transportation.
Passengers can request an Apollo Go vehicle through the Uber app. Eligible UberX and Uber Comfort bookings may be matched with an autonomous vehicle, while the “Autonomous” option can be selected where available.
The service currently operates in selected parts of Dubai, including Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah.
Baidu provides the autonomous-driving technology through its Apollo Go platform, while local operator New Horizon Luxury Transport manages the vehicles in Dubai.
How Uber’s driverless rides work
Unlike conventional Uber trips, Apollo Go robotaxis operate without a human driver controlling the vehicle.
Passengers book through the Uber platform and, when eligible, may be assigned an autonomous vehicle. The system is designed to allow riders to access driverless transportation through an app they already use.
The launch is part of Uber’s broader strategy of working with multiple autonomous vehicle companies rather than developing a single self-driving technology platform of its own.
Why Dubai’s robotaxi launch matters
The partnership represents another step in the global race to commercialise autonomous transportation.
For passengers, driverless vehicles could eventually provide another option for moving through busy urban areas. For the transportation industry, however, the technology raises questions about road safety, regulation, employment and how passengers will adapt to vehicles without human drivers.
The expansion of autonomous ride-hailing could also reshape the traditional relationship between passengers, drivers and transport companies.
Dubai expands smart transportation
Dubai has invested heavily in artificial intelligence, autonomous mobility and smart-city infrastructure as part of its ambition to become a global technology hub.
The emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, has been working with technology companies to advance autonomous transportation.
Baidu also launched fully driverless commercial Apollo Go rides in Dubai earlier this year, and the integration with Uber gives passengers another way to access the technology.
Uber and Baidu plan wider expansion
The Dubai launch is part of a broader partnership between Uber and Baidu.
The companies announced their international autonomous-vehicle partnership in 2025, with plans to deploy thousands of Apollo Go vehicles across international markets outside mainland China and the United States.
If the rollout expands as planned, more passengers in cities around the world could eventually have the option of requesting a ride without a human driver.
For now, Dubai offers a glimpse into a future where driverless vehicles become part of everyday urban transportation.
The question is no longer simply whether a car can drive itself.
The bigger question is whether cities, regulators and passengers are ready to share the roads with it.
