His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, has officially inaugurated the operations of the RT6 autonomous taxi in Dubai.
Developed by Baidu Apollo Go, these fully driverless vehicles represent a major leap in the city’s commitment to smart mobility.
To mark this milestone, Sheikh Hamdan took a ride in one of the vehicles to the World Governments Summit 2026 at Madinat Jumeirah. This successful demonstration sets the stage for a wider public rollout of the service, which is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026.
Pioneering AI-driven urban mobility
Reflecting on his experience via X, Sheikh Hamdan noted that the autonomous taxi is enabled by “artificial intelligence, advanced sensing technologies, and autonomous decision-making systems.”
He emphasized that this initiative is part of a larger vision to make Dubai’s transport network smarter, safer, and more inclusive. Following the demonstration, His Highness directed the official launch of the service for next month, which will see an initial fleet of 100 fully autonomous vehicles hit the streets. He credited the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and global partners for their role in “redefining urban mobility” and improving the quality of life for Dubai’s residents. More
By Elias Al Helou
