21/08/2026 02:25 AST
Uber Technologies has announced that Baidu's fully driverless Apollo Go vehicles are officially available to riders on the Uber platform in Dubai, with New Horizon Luxury Transport serving as the fleet operator.
This milestone reinforces Uber's position as the platform of choice for autonomous vehicles (AVs) and marks a leap forward in expanding autonomous technology worldwide.
As the inaugural step in a multi-year strategic partnership, Dubai serves as the launchpad for scaling thousands of Apollo Go vehicles across Uber's global network, a statement said.
Starting Thursday (Aug 20), riders in Dubai requesting an UberX or Uber Comfort may be matched with a fully driverless Apollo Go vehicle. To increase the chances of being matched with a robotaxi, riders can also select the dedicated "Autonomous" option directly in the Uber app.
At initial launch, the fully autonomous service will be available in select locations in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, with plans to expand the operating territory in the future.
"Bringing our partnership with Baidu to life is a major step forward as we expand autonomous mobility globally," said Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous at Uber.
"Launching in Dubai marks the first time our multi-partner vision comes to life on public roads, demonstrating how combining advanced autonomous technology with our global marketplace can accelerate an electric, shared, and autonomous future."
"This launch marks a meaningful milestone in our partnership with Uber, with Dubai serving as the launchpad as the partnership grows its footprint," said Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of Overseas Business Unit, Intelligent Driving Group. "Dubai is also the first city where we've successfully established a dual-model offering both self-operated and partner-based autonomous ride-hailing services internationally. With this launch, we are excited to offer another way for riders in Dubai to enjoy the benefits of autonomous mobility."
The service will use Apollo Go's sixth-generation RT6, a purpose-built, fully electric robotaxi designed for fully driverless operations. Accommodating up to three passengers, each vehicle is equipped with more than 30 sensors for comprehensive perception of its surroundings and real-time onboard data processing.
Apollo Go brings deep experience in large-scale, real-world deployment and continues to rapidly expand its global footprint. To date, Apollo Go has spanned 28 cities globally, and its fleets have accumulated over 350 million autonomous kilometers, including over 240 million fully driverless autonomous kilometers, with an outstanding safety record.
"Safety remains Uber's top priority. All autonomous vehicles, including Baidu's Apollo Go, must adhere to Uber's stringent Safety Guidelines before operating on the network," Uber said.
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