Dubai on Tuesday formally launched fully autonomous RT6 taxis on public roads, marking one of the most concrete steps yet by a global city to move self-driving vehicles from testing to daily use. The service was inaugurated by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE.
In a symbolic but deliberate move, he travelled in one of the driverless taxis to the venue of the World Governments Summit. It underlines official confidence in the technology’s readiness for real-world conditions.
Autonomous vehicles have been tested in several global cities, but most programmes remain limited, tightly supervised or restricted to experimental zones. Dubai’s RT6 rollout stands out as the taxis operate without a human driver inside the vehicle, even during commercial use.
Authorities see the move as part of a broader push to reshape urban mobility. Dubai has set a target of making 25% of all journeys autonomous by 2030, with driverless taxis expected to shoulder a significant share of short urban trips. Officials argue that autonomous transport can reduce congestion, cut emissions and improve road safety by limiting human error.
The project is being overseen by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, in partnership with Baidu Apollo Go. The Chinese firm has already deployed robotaxi services in several cities and brings its sixth-generation RT6 vehicle to Dubai.
The taxis rely on a combination of lidar, radar, cameras and artificial intelligence to read road conditions, detect obstacles and respond to traffic signals. Remote monitoring systems allow operators to track vehicles in real time and intervene if required, adding an extra layer of oversight.
Initial operations will be limited to selected routes, with gradual expansion planned as regulators review performance and public response. Authorities have indicated that wider public access will follow in phases rather than through a citywide overnight rollout.
For commuters, the experience is designed to feel familiar: book a ride, get in, and reach the destination. The difference is subtle but significant; no driver, no conversation, and a quiet reminder that urban transport is changing.
Dubai’s decision suggests that autonomous taxis are moving beyond demonstrations and into everyday life. Whether other cities follow at the same pace remains an open question.