In a groundbreaking demonstration of technological advancement, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has personally showcased the city’s progression toward autonomous transportation. The high-profile demonstration occurred near the iconic Burj Al Arab in Jumeirah, where the Crown Prince rode as a passenger in a fully driverless vehicle operated by Baidu’s Apollo Go platform.
The Dubai royal shared footage of the autonomous journey through his Instagram account, which boasts over 17 million followers, accompanied by the caption: ‘Hands off. Future On. #SelfDrivingCar.’ The video evidence reveals the vehicle navigating urban environments independently, executing turns at intersections without human intervention while Matar Al Tayer, Director General of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, observed from the rear seat.
This demonstration represents a significant milestone in Dubai’s smart mobility initiatives, marking the first international deployment of Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous service outside China. The Roads and Transport Authority has granted the Chinese technology company a pioneering license to conduct public road testing without safety drivers—a first-of-its-kind authorization in the region.
Supported by an operations and control center established at Dubai Science Park, the autonomous vehicle trials encompass designated zones including Jumeirah and Zabeel. The current testing phase utilizes approximately 50 sixth-generation RT6 self-driving vehicles, with plans to expand the fleet beyond 1,000 units in forthcoming years. During supervised trial runs, these vehicles have demonstrated capability to reach speeds of 72km/h while autonomously changing lanes on Jumeirah Road.
Industry observers anticipate the transition from testing to operational robotaxi services could occur as early as the first quarter of 2026, positioning Dubai at the forefront of autonomous transportation implementation globally.