Dubai has launched Baidu Apollo Go’s Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre, marking the Chinese technology company’s first such facility outside China and a significant step in the emirate’s autonomous mobility programme.
Dubai Opens Baidu Apollo Go’s First Autonomous Vehicle Control Centre Outside China
The centre was inaugurated at Dubai Science Park by 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 its Intelligent Driving Group. The 2,000-square-metre facility will serve as a central hub for managing autonomous vehicle operations, including fleet monitoring, maintenance, charging, software updates, training and simulations.
The opening follows RTA’s decision to grant Baidu Apollo Go Dubai’s first permit allowing trials of fully autonomous vehicles on public roads without a safety driver. The permit builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in March 2025 to support the large-scale deployment of autonomous taxis. Trial operations began in July 2025, with 50 RT6 autonomous vehicles introduced on designated routes in August.
According to RTA, the new centre integrates intelligent road infrastructure and operational systems and is designed to support plans to expand Apollo Go’s fleet in Dubai to more than 1,000 vehicles in the coming years. The facility is also responsible for safety testing and real-time operational oversight.
Dubai officials described the project as part of a broader strategy to position the emirate as a global hub for smart mobility and artificial intelligence in transport. Baidu executives said the centre and the driverless trial permit reflect confidence in the city’s regulatory framework and infrastructure, and form the foundation for a planned commercial autonomous ride-hailing service in early 2026.
Apollo Go said its technology is supported by extensive operational experience. Globally, its autonomous vehicles have logged more than 240 million kilometres, including over 140 million kilometres in fully driverless mode. The service operates in 22 cities, with weekly rides exceeding 250,000 and total completed trips surpassing 17 million as of 31 October 2025.
Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office
Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.
Oksana Bozhko
