Free Autonomous Taxis Launch in Jumeirah & Umm Suqeim

The Roads and Transport Authority has begun public operations of an autonomous taxi service in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim, allowing residents to book free driverless rides via the Uber and Apollo Go mobile applications as part of a push towards smart mobility in Dubai.

The service is operated in partnership with Apollo Go and autonomous driving technology company WeRide. In a social media post, the authority said: “Your next ride could be autonomous, and it’s currently free,” inviting residents to experience the technology firsthand.

The public operations follow a commercial rollout of autonomous taxis earlier this year, with the first phase introducing 100 driverless vehicles into Dubai’s transport network. The fleet is expected to expand gradually over the coming years in line with demand for smart mobility services and the emirate’s broader plans to increase the use of autonomous transport.