Baidu Apollo Go Opens Dubai Autonomous Vehicles Operations And Control Centre

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and Baidu’s Intelligent Driving Group have opened Baidu Apollo Go’s first overseas Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre at Dubai Science Park. The 2,000-square-metre hub will manage Apollo Go’s driverless fleet, which is planned to grow beyond 1,000 autonomous vehicles in Dubai, supporting a commercial ride-hailing launch targeted for the first quarter of 2026.

The centre’s launch follows a series of regulatory steps by Dubai authorities. RTA granted Baidu Apollo Go the emirate’s first permit to test fully autonomous vehicles on public roads without a safety driver. This builds on earlier permits for autonomous driving trials and aligns with Dubai’s broader smart mobility and artificial intelligence goals in the transport sector.

The opening of the Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre is based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between RTA and Baidu in March 2025. The agreement aims to enable large-scale deployment of autonomous taxis across Dubai, integrating the technology into both taxi and ride-hailing services to support future mobility plans set by RTA.

In July 2025, Baidu Apollo Go secured Dubai’s first autonomous driving trial permit. This authorisation covered operational tests of autonomous vehicles on specified routes. The initiative advanced in August 2025, when trials began with 50 RT6 autonomous vehicles operating on designated roads, providing key performance and safety data ahead of wider rollout.

The new facility at Dubai Science Park acts as a central base for fleet operations, maintenance and charging. Teams at the site will handle daily vehicle dispatching and monitoring, charging operations, and regular inspections. The centre will also oversee management of test vehicles, including upkeep of dedicated components and associated technical equipment.

Inside the 2,000-square-metre complex, Baidu Apollo Go has set up a simulation room, a training room, and an operations and maintenance area. These spaces support software updates, safety testing and scenario modelling. Staff will use them to check system performance, refine autonomous driving algorithms and train personnel involved in daily operations and safety oversight.

Apollo Go autonomous vehicles Dubai safety, training and collaboration

The centre’s responsibilities extend to software lifecycle management and rapid response to operational commands. It will support safety drivers in duties such as test readiness checks, safety awareness activities, and structured training. The hub will also manage device inventories and day-to-day office functions, helping coordinate field teams and control room staff involved in trial and pre-commercial phases.

Mattar Al Tayer said the move supports Dubai’s efforts to position itself as a global leader in smart mobility and the use of artificial intelligence in transport. He added, "The opening of Apollo Go’s first operations centre outside China reflects the strong confidence of leading global companies in Dubai’s advanced regulatory environment and the readiness of its smart infrastructure to accommodate and advance autonomous vehicle technologies in line with the highest standards of safety and efficiency."

Al Tayer noted that this collaboration forms part of RTA’s vision to expand future mobility solutions and enhance the deployment of autonomous vehicles across taxi and ride-hailing services. Wang said the permit and the opening of the centre mark a milestone in Apollo Go’s expansion in the United Arab Emirates. "Building on our proven global expertise, we look forward to working closely with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and local partners to deliver safe, efficient and sustainable autonomous ride-hailing services, accelerating the emirate’s transition towards intelligent transportation," he said.

The fully driverless trial permit, which removes the need for a safety driver, is described by Baidu Apollo as critical for commercial deployment. "Receiving Dubai’s first driverless vehicle trial permit is a testament to the safety and maturity of our technology," said Liang Zhang, Managing Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Baidu Apollo. "By establishing our first overseas Apollo Go Park here in Dubai, we are creating a strong foundation to localise our operations and work closely with Dubai’s RTA to deliver safe, efficient and sustainable autonomous mobility solutions for the emirate’s residents."

With the operations centre active, a phased roadmap is now in place, linking regulatory approvals, fleet expansion and infrastructure readiness. The project positions Dubai Science Park as a technical base for autonomous mobility, while RTA and Baidu Apollo Go progress towards large-scale commercial services planned from early 2026, aligned with the emirate’s strategy for intelligent transportation systems.

With inputs from WAM