5 min read
You open the app, a car pulls up in Jumeirah, and the driver's seat is empty. This is already happening in Dubai. While the world argues about when robotaxis will arrive, this city has been charging fares for them since spring.
Here is a practical guide, for visitors and residents alike, to what is running today.
How to book a driverless taxi in Dubai
There are two ways at the moment:
- Uber app: choose the "Autonomous" option. It raises your chance of a driverless car, which may be from WeRide or Baidu's Apollo Go. Since 20 August 2026, requests for UberX or Uber Comfort may also be matched with a driverless Apollo Go car.
- Apollo Go app: Baidu's own app books its cars directly.
Where do they go?
The service covers selected locations in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim, two coastal districts popular with visitors. So you can ride along the beach, but you cannot yet take one from the airport or across the city. WeRide has named further areas for expansion, including Dubai Silicon Oasis, Nad Al Sheba, Wadi Al Safa and Ras Al Khor, without a timeline.
How did it get here?
- December 2025: Uber rides begin in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim, with a safety specialist on board.
- February 2026: the RTA grants WeRide a fully driverless licence.
- End of March 2026: fully driverless, fare-charging operations begin.
- August 2026: Apollo Go cars join the Uber network in Dubai.
What the numbers say
The RTA published its figures in August 2026:
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Distance travelled | Over 4 million km |
| Passenger trips | 7,613 |
| Vehicles | 144, with 48 in active service |
| Daily trips | About 50 |
| Customer satisfaction | 97% |
The mix is telling. Four million kilometres against 7,613 trips shows that most of the driving so far has been testing and data collection, not carrying people. It is still early, and the RTA is rolling this out in stages on purpose. The city's target is for 25% of all transport trips to be autonomous by 2030.
Is it safe, and is it free?
The cars move through stages of testing, first with safety drivers, before they run empty. The Apollo Go RT6 is fully electric, seats up to three passengers and carries more than 30 sensors. Rides are paid; the early free period for Apollo Go has ended. We have not seen a fixed public tariff, so check the fare in the app before you confirm.
A robotaxi or a car of your own?
A driverless car is a great way to get along Jumeirah Beach Road and a story to tell back home. It cannot take you to Jebel Jais or wait outside a restaurant with your bags. It also cannot be a Ferrari.
When you want a person who knows the city, opens the door and adapts to your plans, our chauffeur service does what software doesn't yet. When the driving is the whole point, see the sports cars in our Dubai fleet. Some things in this city are still better with your own hands on the wheel.
Sources
- Khaleej Times, 19 August 2026: RTA figures
- Khaleej Times, 20 August 2026: Apollo Go on Uber
- WeRide: public operations and expansion areas
- Gulf News: the December 2025 pilot
Photo: a WeRide robotaxi in the UAE. Kk0521, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
