Dubai grants permits for autonomous vehicle trials

Dubai has officially granted permits for autonomous driving trials to three global tech firms, marking a major step forward in the emirate’s smart mobility ambitions.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has partnered with Baidu’s Apollo Go, WeRide and Pony.ai for testing self-driving vehicles on Dubai’s roads.

This marks a significant move toward integrating self-driving technology into Dubai’s transport system, with all trials designed to ensure smooth adaptation to local conditions.

The initiative builds on agreements signed earlier this year between the RTA and the three companies, ensuring timely execution of a roadmap to introduce autonomous taxi services in Dubai.

The trials are part of the broader Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which targets converting 25 per cent of all mobility journeys in Dubai into autonomous trips by 2030.

RTA grants the first autonomous driving test permits to Baidu’s Apollo Go, WeRide, and https://t.co/sA5zG4sDKr, enabling them to begin on-road vehicle testing across urban Dubai. This initiative marks a key step towards realising Dubai’s Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy,… pic.twitter.com/KHtncHVmKC

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) September 26, 2025