The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that it has inked a historic Memorandum of Understanding with Uber Technologies, Inc. and WeRide, a leading global pioneer in autonomous driving, to begin experimental operations of self-driving taxis later this year.
The AVs will initially be accessible through the Uber app and will be driven by a safety driver. In line with the city's goal of having 25% of all trips in Dubai be autonomous by 2030, these trials are intended to prepare the way for the full-scale, driverless commercial launch of robotaxis in Dubai by 2026.
The announcement comes after RTA strategically increased its alliances with prominent international AV technology companies, such as Baidu's Apollo Go, WeRide, and Uber. As part of the city's larger Self-Driving Transport Strategy, these partnerships seek to position Dubai as a global testing ground for cutting-edge mobility technologies.
