Three companies, pony.ai, Uber, and Apollo Go (affiliated with Baidu), are set to launch a fleet of 100 driverless taxis in collaboration with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The long-awaited self-driving taxi service in Dubai will commence operations in March, as directed by the Crown Prince of the emirate, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

On Thursday, February 5, Sheikh Hamdan stated:
«This is just the beginning of our journey towards the future. The best is yet to come for Dubai.»
He added that 100 fully autonomous vehicles will be added to Dubai's driverless transport fleet.

In a symbolic gesture demonstrating his confidence in Dubai's capabilities to take significant steps in the field of autonomous transport, along with the precise implementation of safety measures, Sheikh Hamdan rode in a driverless vehicle on Thursday to attend the World Governments Summit 2026 in Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

Sheikh Hamdan, who also holds the positions of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, shared a video of this journey and captioned it:
«Hands off. Future On. #SelfDrivingCar»
He traveled this route in one of the Apollo Go self-driving vehicles owned by Baidu.

He further added:
«The future of transport in Dubai will be smarter, safer, more efficient, and more inclusive. We are turning vision into reality and creating sustainable transport that enhances the quality of life for all.»

Source: Gulf Times