Dubai has officially begun operations of its fully autonomous RT6 taxi fleet, marking a significant step in integrating advanced artificial intelligence into the emirate’s transport ecosystem.
The launch was inaugurated by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, underscoring the leadership’s commitment to smart mobility and future-ready infrastructure.
To demonstrate the system’s real-world readiness, Sheikh Hamdan travelled in one of the autonomous taxis on public roads while heading to the World Government Summit at Madinat Jumeirah, highlighting the technology’s ability to operate safely within live traffic conditions.
The milestone clears the way for a wider public rollout planned for the first quarter of 2026. During the journey, Sheikh Hamdan was briefed on the vehicle’s AI-powered operating systems, which rely on autonomous decision-making and advanced sensing technologies to ensure safe and seamless journeys.
The RT6, developed by Baidu Apollo Go, represents the sixth generation of autonomous taxi technology and is designed for large-scale deployment.
The vehicle is equipped with more than 40 sensors, including high-precision LiDAR, multi-band radar and advanced cameras, enabling it to accurately interpret its surroundings, respond to dynamic traffic scenarios and comply with safety and regulatory standards.
Its software ecosystem integrates real-time data, high-definition maps and deep-learning algorithms to navigate intersections, pedestrians and surrounding vehicles smoothly.
The technology builds on Baidu Apollo Go’s extensive global track record, with its autonomous vehicles having completed over 150 million kilometres of safe driving and more than 10 million driverless trips worldwide.
The initiative emerged from collaboration between Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and Baidu Apollo Go, following discussions at the World Government Summit 2025, and progressed from planning to live operations within approximately ten months.
Supporting the expansion, Baidu Apollo Go has established its first autonomous vehicle operations and control centre outside China at Dubai Science Park. The 2,000-square-metre facility will oversee fleet monitoring, software updates, maintenance and safety testing.
The company plans to scale its autonomous fleet in Dubai to more than 1,000 vehicles in the coming years, reinforcing the emirate’s ambition to lead in smart and sustainable mobility.
