Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has partnered with Pony.ai to launch autonomous taxi trials by the end of 2025, aiming for a full commercial rollout in 2026. The initiative supports Dubai’s goal to make 25% of all trips driverless by 2030, positioning the city as a global leader in smart, sustainable mobility.
In a major leap toward its autonomous transport vision, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a landmark agreement with Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai, setting the stage for self-driving taxis to hit the emirate’s roads as early as this year.
The deal marks a key milestone in Dubai’s ambition to become a global leader in smart mobility, with plans already in place for a full commercial rollout of autonomous taxis by 2026. The initiative is central to Dubai’s bold goal of converting 25% of all city trips to driverless transport by 2030.
Signed in the presence of top executives, including RTA’s Mattar Al Tayer and Pony.ai’s Dr. Leo Wang, the memorandum of understanding signals growing international interest in Dubai as a testbed for advanced transportation technologies.
“This partnership will redefine mobility in Dubai,” said Mr. Al Tayer. “Autonomous taxis will offer safer, smarter, and more convenient travel options while supporting our broader sustainability and innovation goals.”
Pony.ai, backed by major automakers like Toyota, GAC, and BAIC, brings to the table its latest seventh-generation autonomous vehicle platform. The vehicles come equipped with a cutting-edge blend of lidar, radar, and camera systems, enabling Level 4 autonomy—meaning they can operate without human intervention in defined areas.
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in both Silicon Valley and Guangzhou, Pony.ai has racked up over 25 million kilometres of autonomous driving globally, with active robotaxi operations in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and California’s Irvine.
“Partnering with RTA reinforces our commitment to global deployment of Level 4 autonomous tech,” said Dr. Wang. “Dubai is a strategic market with a clear vision for future mobility.”
Dubai has long been exploring autonomous transport, having launched its Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy in 2016. From autonomous shuttle pilots in Downtown Dubai to air taxi trials with Volocopter and earlier collaborations with General Motors’ Cruise, the city has remained at the forefront of mobility innovation.
The latest agreement adds Pony.ai to Dubai’s growing network of global partners, cementing the emirate’s position as a living lab for next-generation urban mobility.
Though details of the pilot program—including fleet size and operating zones—remain under wraps, officials say the trial will commence before year-end, setting the wheels in motion for a sweeping transformation of Dubai’s roads.
Beyond city taxis, the UAE’s broader autonomous ambitions are rapidly evolving. Abu Dhabi is testing driverless vehicles on Yas and Saadiyat Islands, while the country experiments with autonomous military vehicles and self-driving airport ground services.
As Dubai embraces this new mobility era, one thing is clear: the future of transport is not just coming—it’s arriving ahead of schedule.
