Latest news with #Self-DrivingTransportStrategy
Trade Arabia
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Trade Arabia
Dubai to roll out autonomous taxis in Q1 2026
Dubai is expected to roll out autonomous taxi service in the city during the first quarter of 2026. Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has an ambitious roadmap for deploying autonomous taxis across the city. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, was briefed on the roadmap during a visit to RTA, said a Wam news agency report. As part of this initiative, the RTA has signed agreements with three leading international companies specialising in autonomous taxi operations. During the first phase, over 60 vehicles will be deployed to carry out road mapping, data collection, and route scanning. The second phase will see pilot operations launched in up to 65 designated zones across the emirate, chosen according to several key criteria, with a particular focus on Dubai's high road safety standards. This roadmap represents a major milestone in advancing Dubai's Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to convert 25% of all mobility journeys in the city to autonomous modes by 2030.
Hi Dubai
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hi Dubai
RTA Deploys Over 60 Vehicles for Road Mapping, Data Collection in Push for Autonomous Mobility
Dubai is set to revolutionize its transportation landscape with the planned launch of autonomous taxis by the first quarter of 2026. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is progressing rapidly with the deployment of over 60 vehicles for road mapping, data collection, and route scanning, marking a significant step in the city's drive toward autonomous mobility. The first phase of this ambitious project will focus on deploying the vehicles to assess key routes, with the second phase introducing pilot operations across up to 65 designated zones in Dubai. These zones will be carefully selected based on stringent safety criteria, ensuring alignment with the city's high road safety standards. The announcement of this rollout comes after a strategic partnership between RTA and three global leaders in autonomous transport: Uber Technologies, WeRide, and Baidu. The agreements were signed last month, further solidifying Dubai's position as a leader in the adoption of autonomous technologies. The project aligns with Dubai's Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which targets converting 25 percent of all mobility journeys in the city to autonomous vehicles by 2030. As part of the broader vision, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, was briefed on the latest developments, including the potential for autonomous vehicles to enhance road safety. According to Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of the RTA, autonomous vehicles can significantly reduce traffic accidents, which are largely caused by human error. Sheikh Hamdan was also updated on the RTA's initiatives to improve traffic flow through smart technologies. The use of drones and artificial intelligence to monitor construction projects has already led to substantial improvements in operational efficiency, reducing the time needed for field surveys by 60 percent and increasing project oversight by 40 percent. The integration of time-lapse imaging technology has further reduced delays by 20 percent, ensuring the timely completion of infrastructure projects across the emirate. With these developments, Dubai is positioning itself as a global hub for innovative transportation solutions, setting the stage for the widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles. News Source: Khaleej Times
The National
02-04-2025
- Automotive
- The National
Uber and WeRide team up with RTA to bring self-driving taxis to Dubai's roads
Ride-hailing companies Uber Technologies and WeRide have teamed up with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority to bring self-driving taxis to the emirate's roads. San Francisco-based Uber and the RTA will launch pilot programmes, ensure safety protocols and regulatory frameworks, and explore data insight, Uber and WeRide said in a joint statement on Wednesday. WeRide, based in Guangzhou, China, became the first autonomous vehicle (AV) provider to secure a national licence from the UAE for self-driving vehicles on public roads, in July 2023. Dubai will become the second city in the Middle East to have WeRide's robotaxis on its roads after the company joined forces with Uber to launch a commercial driverless mobility service in Abu Dhabi in December. Further details, including target dates for AV introduction in Dubai, will be announced at a later date, the statement said. 'This partnership … represents a crucial step in advancing Dubai's Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to transform 25 per cent of all journeys in the city into autonomous trips across various transport modes by 2030,' said Mattar Al Tayer, director general and board chairman of the RTA. The UAE aims to become a leader in smart mobility systems to boost sustainability. Dubai began supervised testing of driverless vehicles on its roads in October 2023 after the US self-driving tech company Cruise, which is backed by General Motors and Honda Motor, was issued with a trial permit. Dubai Taxi Company, which partnered with European mobility company Bolt to launch ride-hailing services, plans to launch its first autonomous taxi service in the emirate by the first quarter of 2026, its chief executive Mansoor Alfalasi told The National in February. The emirate is 'a natural step forward' for WeRide's strategy of advancing mobility in the wider Middle East region, the company's chief financial officer, Jennifer Li, said. Abu Dhabi already has its own fleet of driverless taxis on Yas Island, run by TXAI, the UAE's first driverless taxi service. In addition, electric air taxis are expected to begin operating in Dubai during the first quarter of 2026, the RTA confirmed in September. Manufacturers of self-driving vehicles continue to improve their capabilities and safety, which is expanding the market. The industry's market size is projected to hit more than $2.2 trillion by 2030, from an estimated $287.6 billion in 2024, at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 34 per cent, data from Next Move Strategy Consulting shows. In the UAE alone, the ride-hailing market is projected to post a 'significant' rise in revenue, to reach nearly $204 million in 2025, a study from Statista Market Insights shows. Uber is 'working with the world's leading autonomous vehicle developers to help commercialise and deploy this technology at scale around the world', said the company's head of autonomous mobility, Noah Zych. Uber is considered the pioneer of ride-hailing services and operates in 70 countries. In 2019, the company acquired Dubai's Careem in a $3.1 billion deal, and has expanded into food delivery and freight. WeRide, which is present in 10 countries, provides driving products and services that comply to autonomous levels two to four, the latter of which would need no human driver in most circumstances. It says it is the only company to hold driverless permits in China, France, Singapore, the UAE and the US.
Arabian Business
02-04-2025
- Automotive
- Arabian Business
Dubai self-driving taxis to launch in 2026
Dubai will launch self-driving taxi trials next year as it targets 25 per cent of all journeys in the city to be autonomous by 2030. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has expanded its global partnerships with leading autonomous driving technology providers to deploy autonomous taxis in Dubai . The collaboration includes a strategic partnership with Uber Technologies and WeRide, who will launch AVs in Dubai through the Uber platform. Dubai self-driving taxis Alongside China's Baidu, through its autonomous mobility arm, Apollo Go—one of the world's foremost providers of self-driving solutions and autonomous ride hailing services. This initiative forms part of RTA's broader strategy to establish Dubai as a global pioneer in autonomous mobility and support its vision to become the smartest city and the best place to live and work worldwide. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said: 'These two partnerships with Uber, starting with WeRide as the technology partner and Baidu (Apollo Go) represent a crucial step in advancing Dubai's Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to transform 25 per cent of all journeys in the city into autonomous trips across various transport modes by 2030. 'These collaborations highlight RTA's commitment to engaging with global technology leaders and forms part of a series of autonomous mobility trials launched in 2016, which have grown in diversity over the past years.' Al Tayer expressed his satisfaction with both companies selecting Dubai as the international hub for expanding their autonomous operations beyond their home markets. He said: 'The deployment of autonomous taxis will support the integration of transport systems by enhancing first and last-mile connectivity for public transport users. This aligns with the First and Last-Mile Strategy adopted by RTA last year, which aims to facilitate passenger movement between their point of origin or destination and the nearest public transport station. 'Autonomous vehicles also contribute to improved road safety, as human error is responsible for over 90 per cent of traffic accidents. Moreover, they serve a wide segment of the community—particularly senior citizens, residents, and people of determination. 'Uber, starting with WeRide, and Baidu through Apollo Go will commence trials of autonomous taxis in Dubai this year, with a safety driver seated behind the wheel, in preparation for the driverless commercial launch in 2026. 'The broader rollout of autonomous vehicles will mark a transformative shift in Dubai's transport landscape and further strengthen RTA's efforts to enhance network integration by facilitating smoother mobility for public transport users.' Dr. Wang Yunpeng, Baidu Corporate Vice President, President of Baidu Intelligent Driving Group, said: 'This ambitious partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai represents Apollo Go's biggest international expansion beyond China thus far. 'It also highlights Dubai's commitment to positioning itself as a global hub for innovation in future mobility. We are committed to delivering safe, sustainable, and efficient services to more regions, working alongside local partners to provide meaningful transport solutions that benefit broader communities around the world.' Noah Zych, Uber's Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery Operations, said: 'We're thrilled to be working with Dubai's Road and Transport Authority to bring autonomous vehicles onto the Uber platform, starting with our technology partner WeRide. 'At Uber, we're building the future of transportation, working with the world's leading autonomous vehicle developers to help commercialize and deploy this technology at scale around the world.' Jennifer Li, Chief Financial Officer and Head of International Business at WeRide, stated: 'Dubai marks a natural step forward in our commitment to advancing mobility in the Middle East as well as our continued global expansion. 'We believe our advanced autonomous driving technology and operational experience combined with Uber's powerful global mobility platform will help us serve millions of consumers in cities around the world.' To date, Apollo Go has recorded more than 150 million kilometres of safe autonomous driving, supporting the large-scale deployment of autonomous ride-hailing services across more than 10 Chinese cities. Since this February, Apollo Go has commenced fully driverless operations across China, and has completed more than 10 million autonomous rides lately, making it the world's largest operator of driverless fleets.
Emirates 24/7
02-04-2025
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
RTA Expands Global Partnerships to Operate Autonomous Taxis in Dubai in collaboration with (Uber, WeRide) and (Baidu, Apollo Go)
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has expanded its global partnerships with leading autonomous driving technology providers to deploy autonomous taxis in Dubai. The collaboration includes a strategic partnership with Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER), and WeRide (NASDAQ: WRD), who will launch AVs in Dubai through the Uber platform. Alongside China's Baidu, through its autonomous mobility arm, Apollo Go—one of the world's foremost providers of self-driving solutions and autonomous ride hailing services. This initiative forms part of RTA's broader strategy to establish Dubai as a global pioneer in autonomous mobility and support its vision to become the smartest city and the best place to live and work worldwide. His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said: 'These two partnerships with Uber, starting with WeRide as the technology partner and Baidu (Apollo Go) represent a crucial step in advancing Dubai's Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to transform 25% of all journeys in the city into autonomous trips across various transport modes by 2030. These collaborations highlight RTA's commitment to engaging with global technology leaders and forms part of a series of autonomous mobility trials launched in 2016, which have grown in diversity over the past years.' Facilitating Passenger Mobility Al Tayer expressed his satisfaction with both companies selecting Dubai as the international hub for expanding their autonomous operations beyond their home markets. He stated: 'The deployment of autonomous taxis will support the integration of transport systems by enhancing first and last-mile connectivity for public transport users. This aligns with the First and Last-Mile Strategy adopted by RTA last year, which aims to facilitate passenger movement between their point of origin or destination and the nearest public transport station. Autonomous vehicles also contribute to improved road safety, as human error is responsible for over 90% of traffic accidents. Moreover, they serve a wide segment of the community—particularly senior citizens, residents, and people of determination.' Al Tayer added: 'Uber, starting with WeRide, and Baidu through Apollo Go will commence trials of autonomous taxis in Dubai this year, with a safety driver seated behind the wheel, in preparation for the driverless commercial launch in 2026. The broader rollout of autonomous vehicles will mark a transformative shift in Dubai's transport landscape and further strengthen RTA's efforts to enhance network integration by facilitating smoother mobility for public transport users.' Commercializing Baidu Services in Dubai Dr. Wang Yunpeng, Baidu Corporate Vice President, President of Baidu Intelligent Driving Group, said: 'This ambitious partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai represents Apollo Go's biggest international expansion beyond China thus far. It also highlights Dubai's commitment to positioning itself as a global hub for innovation in future mobility. We are committed to delivering safe, sustainable, and efficient services to more regions, working alongside local partners to provide meaningful transport solutions that benefit broader communities around the world.' Commercializing Uber Services in Dubai Noah Zych, Uber's Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery Operations, said: 'We're thrilled to be working with Dubai's Road and Transport Authority to bring autonomous vehicles onto the Uber platform, starting with our technology partner WeRide. At Uber, we're building the future of transportation, working with the world's leading autonomous vehicle developers to help commercialize and deploy this technology at scale around the world.' Jennifer Li, Chief Financial Officer and Head of International Business at WeRide, stated: 'Dubai marks a natural step forward in our commitment to advancing mobility in the Middle East as well as our continued global expansion. We believe our advanced autonomous driving technology and operational experience combined with Uber's powerful global mobility platform will help us serve millions of consumers in cities around the world.' To date, Apollo Go has recorded over 150 million kilometres of safe autonomous driving, supporting the large-scale deployment of autonomous ride-hailing services across more than 10 Chinese cities. Since this February, Apollo Go has commenced fully driverless operations across China, and has completed more than 10 million autonomous rides lately, making it the world's largest operator of driverless fleets. Its sixth-generation robotaxi RT6, purpose-built for autonomous ride-hailing, has been widely welcomed and well received by passengers. About Uber Uber's mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 58 billion trips later, we're building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities. About WeRide WeRide is a global leader and a first mover in the autonomous driving industry, as well as the first publicly listed Robotaxi company. Empowered by the smart, versatile, cost-effective and highly adaptable WeRide One platform, WeRide provides autonomous driving products and services from L2 to L4, addressing a vast majority of transportation needs across a wide range of use cases on the open road, including in the mobility, logistics, and sanitation industries. WeRide earned a prestigious position among the top ten on Fortune Magazine's '2023 Change the World' list and was named to Fortune Magazine's 2024 'The Future 50' list. For more information, please visit About Baidu Founded in 2000, Baidu's mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on the NASDAQ under "BIDU" and HKEX under "9888." One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares. About Apollo Go Apollo Go, also known as Luobo Kuaipao, is Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing service and one of the world's leading players in large-scale self-driving mobility solutions. As China's first fully driverless commercial Robotaxi service, Apollo Go is pioneering the integration of AI, big data, and automation to build the smart cities of the future. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
