Baidu Inc. and Uber Technologies Inc. have announced a partnership that will bring Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous ride‑hailing service to Dubai. The service will be available through the Uber app, allowing riders to select an “Autonomous” option for driverless vehicles. The launch is slated for March 2026, following a series of on‑road trials that began in August 2025.
Baidu’s entry into Dubai began earlier this year when it opened its first overseas operations and management hub, Apollo Go Park, in January 2026. The company has already conducted on‑road trials with a 50‑vehicle fleet in the Jumeirah area, having secured the city’s first autonomous driving trial permits from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
Under the partnership, New Horizon will manage the vehicle fleet, while Uber will provide the platform and customer interface. Riders in the Jumeirah district will be able to book autonomous rides directly from the Uber app, with the option to match with Apollo Go vehicles for UberX or Uber Comfort services. The service is expected to begin operations in March 2026, with plans to expand to additional districts as regulatory approvals and operational learnings are completed.
The launch aligns with Dubai’s ambition to have 25% of transportation trips be autonomous by 2030, and it fits into Uber’s broader strategy of acting as a global distribution platform for autonomous vehicle technology. Baidu’s partnership with Uber also supports the company’s asset‑light approach to global expansion, allowing it to scale Apollo Go without the heavy capital outlay required for building local infrastructure.
Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu’s Overseas Business Unit, said the partnership “marks a pivotal step in our mission to provide safe, efficient, and accessible autonomous mobility worldwide.” Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous, added that the collaboration “expands consumer access to autonomous technology in major cities around the world” and that Uber’s network will accelerate the deployment of driverless taxis.
The partnership positions both companies to capture a growing share of the autonomous ride‑hailing market, while also strengthening Dubai’s smart‑city ecosystem. By leveraging Uber’s established customer base and Baidu’s proven autonomous platform, the joint venture is poised to deliver a scalable, data‑rich service that can inform future regulatory frameworks and accelerate the city’s autonomous mobility goals.
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