First self-driving taxis control centre outside China opens in Dubai
Dubai has inaugurated Baidu Apollo Go’s Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre, the company’s first such facility outside China, strengthening the emirate’s position in autonomous transport.
Opened by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and Baidu executives, the 2,000-square-metre centre at Dubai Science Park will oversee testing, monitoring, maintenance, charging and software management for self-driving taxis.
The launch follows a series of regulatory milestones, including Dubai’s first permit for fully driverless trials on public roads.
Commercial autonomous taxi services are planned to begin in the first quarter of 2026, with the fleet set to expand gradually to around 1,000 vehicles, supported by Apollo Go’s extensive global experience in autonomous ride-hailing.