The opening marks a significant milestone for the company, representing the establishment of Apollo Go’s first operations centre outside China
Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and Yunpeng Wang, corporate vice president of Baidu and President of Baidu’s Intelligent Driving Group, have inaugurated Baidu Apollo Go’s Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre at Dubai Science Park.
The opening marks a significant milestone for the company, representing the establishment of Apollo Go’s first operations centre outside China.
The facility underscores Dubai’s continued push to position itself at the forefront of smart mobility and advanced transport technologies, while also reflecting the emirate’s growing appeal to global technology leaders seeking to scale autonomous vehicle solutions beyond their home markets.
Read more-Dubai launches Robotaxi service: Uber, WeRide debut autonomous rides in RTA-led rollout
Spanning an area of 2,000 square metres, the centre has been designed as a comprehensive operational hub supporting infrastructure resources, service management, and internet-based applications. According to an RTA media report, the facility also houses a simulation room, a training room, and a dedicated operations and maintenance centre, enabling end-to-end oversight of autonomous vehicle deployment and performance.
In conjunction with the opening of the centre, RTA granted Baidu Apollo Go Dubai’s first permit of its kind, authorising the company to conduct trials of fully autonomous vehicles on designated public roads without a safety driver behind the wheel. The permit represents a landmark regulatory step for the emirate and signals a high level of institutional confidence in Apollo Go’s autonomous driving technology.
The approval allows Apollo Go to advance its testing and operational readiness for driverless mobility solutions within Dubai’s public transport ecosystem. It also reinforces RTA’s stated objective of developing a flexible and forward-looking regulatory framework that accommodates rapid innovation while maintaining the highest safety standards.
During a tour of the newly inaugurated centre, Mattar Al Tayer was briefed on its facilities and operational capabilities. The centre has been designed as a fully integrated hub for autonomous vehicles, bringing together intelligent road infrastructure, charging and maintenance facilities, and supporting technologies within a single operational environment.
The facility aligns with Apollo Go’s long-term plans to expand its autonomous vehicle fleet in Dubai to more than 1,000 vehicles in the coming years. From a technical and operational perspective, the centre is responsible for the daily operation of vehicles, routine maintenance activities, charging operations, software updates, and vehicle inspection processes.
In addition, the centre oversees the maintenance of components and equipment dedicated to test vehicles, while supporting safety testing and ensuring rapid and effective responses to operational commands. It also enables safety drivers and operational staff to perform a wide range of roles, including test readiness, safety awareness, training, device inventory management, and support for day-to-day office operations.
The opening of the Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre builds on a series of regulatory and operational milestones achieved by Baidu Apollo Go in Dubai. In March 2025, RTA and the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enable the large-scale operation of autonomous taxis across the emirate.
This was followed in July 2025 by the issuance of Dubai’s first autonomous driving trial permit, allowing Apollo Go to conduct operational trials of autonomous vehicles. In August, the company launched trials involving 50 RT6 autonomous vehicles operating on designated roads across Dubai, further advancing its testing programme.
Securing the first permit to conduct fully driverless trials without a safety driver behind the wheel marks a pivotal milestone in Apollo Go’s efforts to launch a fully integrated commercial autonomous ride-hailing service in the emirate in the first quarter of 2026.
Mattar Al Tayer expressed satisfaction with the opening of Baidu Apollo Go’s Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre, describing it as a strategic milestone in Dubai’s journey toward consolidating its global leadership in smart mobility and artificial intelligence-driven transport solutions.
He said the opening of Apollo Go’s first operations centre outside China reflects strong confidence among leading global companies in Dubai’s advanced regulatory environment and the readiness of its smart infrastructure to support autonomous vehicle technologies in line with the highest standards of safety and efficiency.
Al Tayer added that RTA’s issuance of Dubai’s first permit for fully driverless operational trials without a safety driver represents a qualitative milestone that translates the authority’s commitment to developing a secure and flexible legislative framework. He noted that such frameworks are essential to keeping pace with rapid advancements in mobility technologies, supporting innovation, and fostering partnerships with specialised global companies.
He further stated that collaboration with Baidu Apollo Go forms part of RTA’s broader vision to expand future mobility solutions and enhance the deployment of autonomous vehicles across taxi and ride-hailing services. These efforts are expected to contribute to improving quality of life, enhancing road safety, reducing carbon emissions, and increasing the efficiency of Dubai’s transport network.
Yunpeng Wang said Baidu was honoured that Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority had entrusted Apollo Go with the emirate’s first driverless vehicle trial permit. He noted that, together with the opening of the company’s first overseas Apollo Go Park, the development marks a significant milestone in Apollo Go’s expansion in the United Arab Emirates and underscores its long-term commitment to the region.
Building on its global expertise, Wang said the company looks forward to working closely with RTA and local partners to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable autonomous ride-hailing services, while accelerating Dubai’s transition toward intelligent transportation.
Liang Zhang, MD for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Baidu Apollo, said receiving Dubai’s first driverless vehicle trial permit is a testament to the safety and maturity of the company’s technology. He added that establishing the first overseas Apollo Go Park in Dubai creates a strong foundation to localise operations and deliver autonomous mobility solutions tailored to the needs of residents.
Apollo Go’s expansion in the UAE is supported by its industry-leading autonomous driving technology and extensive real-world operational experience. The company’s autonomous vehicles have logged more than 240 million kilometres in autonomous operation, including over 140 million kilometres completed in fully driverless mode without a human driver.
With operations spanning 22 cities globally, Apollo Go’s weekly ride volume has exceeded 250,000 trips, while cumulative completed rides surpassed 17 million as of October 31, 2025.
Comments
0 comment