Uber and Baidu rolled out a pilot fleet of 30 autonomous vehicles across Dubai, offering rides to select customers as part of a broader effort to validate driverless technology in urban environments. The service operates on designated routes within the city’s central business district with safety drivers monitoring each trip.

The deployment is governed by a multiyear contract with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, granting regulatory approval for expanded testing and eventual commercial operation. Baidu’s Apollo autonomous driving platform has been integrated into Uber’s ride-hailing app to coordinate bookings, navigation and vehicle health diagnostics.

On the day of the launch, Uber shares surged 3.2% while Baidu stock increased 4.5%, reflecting investor optimism about growth potential in the Middle East. Analysts note that successful scaling in Dubai could pave the way for similar rollouts in other international markets.