Pony.ai secures permit to begin Robotaxi road tests in Dubai

Beijing (Gasgoo)- On Sept. 26, autonomous driving company Pony.ai announced it has received approval to begin Robotaxi road tests in Dubai, marking a key step toward launching commercial services in the city. Pony.ai's first batch of Robotaxi vehicles has already entered road testing, laying the groundwork for fully driverless commercial deployment by 2026 to provide efficient and sustainable mobility for local residents and tourists.

Dubai's diverse and complex road environments are viewed as an ideal incubator for autonomous driving technology iteration. Its dense communities also create high-frequency mobility needs, offering a replicable model for smart mobility commercialization across the Middle East.

The milestone follows Pony.ai's strategic cooperation agreement with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) signed in May and the unveiling of its Robotaxi program in Dubai in July. The collaboration is focused on integrating Level 4 autonomous driving technologies into the city's transportation network to support Dubai's 2030 urban mobility transformation goals.

Globally, Pony.ai has expanded Robotaxi operations beyond China's major cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen to international markets including Dubai, South Korea, Singapore, Luxembourg, and Qatar.