Baidu’s Apollo Go and UAE-based AutoGo have secured one of Abu Dhabi’s inaugural fully driverless commercial permits, marking a pivotal milestone in the emirate’s autonomous mobility development. The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) authorization enables the partners to provide public robotaxi services while advancing plans to deploy hundreds of autonomous vehicles across the capital by 2026.
Highlights
- Apollo Go and AutoGo signed expanded partnership to scale fleet to hundreds of vehicles by 2026
- Partners received one of Abu Dhabi’s first fully driverless commercial robotaxi permits from ITC
- Fleet completed months of fully driverless testing on public roads prior to commercial authorization
- Apollo Go has logged over 240 million autonomous kilometers globally with 250,000+ weekly rides
Commercial Permit Authorizes Public Service Launch
The fully driverless commercial permit represents the culmination of rapid progress since the partnership’s March 2025 announcement. Following months of autonomous testing on Abu Dhabi’s public road network, the authorization clears the fleet to officially transport residents and visitors without human safety drivers.
Director General of ITC, Dr. Abdulla Hamad Al Ghfeli, participated in a pilot ride during Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (November 10–15), where both companies are demonstrating their autonomous ride-hailing capabilities to industry stakeholders and government officials.
Fleet Expansion Targets 2026 Deployment
The next-phase agreement outlines an ambitious scaling timeline that will establish Abu Dhabi’s largest fully driverless fleet. The expansion builds on existing operational infrastructure while integrating additional autonomous vehicles equipped with Apollo’s self-driving technology stack.
Key expansion parameters include:
- Deployment timeline: Hundreds of vehicles operational by 2026
- Service area: Abu Dhabi metropolitan region
- Operational model: Fully driverless commercial robotaxi service
- Fleet size target: Largest autonomous fleet in the emirate
Apollo Go’s Global Operational Track Record
Apollo Go brings extensive autonomous mobility experience to the Abu Dhabi deployment. The service operates across 22 cities worldwide, completing more than 17 million cumulative rides as of October 31, 2025. The platform processes over 250,000 weekly rides while maintaining operational safety standards across diverse urban environments.
Liang Zhang, Managing Director of EMEA for Baidu Apollo, emphasized the rapid progression from partnership announcement to commercial authorization. “Moving from our initial announcement to fully driverless testing in just a few months, and now securing the permit, shows incredible potential and strong support for autonomous mobility in the UAE,” Zhang stated.
AutoGo Advances SAVI Cluster Vision
AutoGo’s partnership with Apollo Go aligns with Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industries (SAVI) cluster initiative. The collaboration positions the emirate as a regional hub for autonomous vehicle technology development and deployment.
Sean Teo, Managing Director of K2, highlighted the strategic importance of the expanded partnership. “The fully driverless commercial permit is a testament to our combined capabilities, and we are excited to expand our cooperation to build Abu Dhabi’s largest driverless robotaxi fleet, transforming the mobility landscape of the UAE,” Teo said.
Technical Infrastructure and Safety Record
Apollo Go’s autonomous driving system has accumulated more than 240 million kilometers of real-world operation. The technology stack integrates sensor fusion, perception algorithms, and planning systems designed for complex urban driving scenarios. The platform’s safety record across global deployments informed ITC’s permit evaluation process.
The Abu Dhabi fleet utilizes the same core autonomous driving technology deployed in Apollo Go’s existing markets, with localization adaptations for regional road infrastructure, traffic patterns, and regulatory requirements.
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