DUBAI: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pony.ai, a global leader in autonomous driving technology, to launch pilot autonomous vehicle trials in the emirate later this year. This partnership sets the foundation for introducing a fully driverless commercial taxi service by 2026.
Pony.ai recently unveiled the seventh generation of its autonomous vehicles, jointly developed with global automotive giants including Toyota, GAC, and BAIC. These advanced vehicles are powered by high-level artificial intelligence algorithms and are fitted with a state-of-the-art sensor suite combining lidars, radars, and cameras. This ensures precise navigation and operational safety, even in varying road and weather conditions.
The company has also partnered with technology firms like Tencent and Alibaba to integrate robotaxi services directly into widely used platforms such as WeChat and Alipay, broadening access to seamless autonomous mobility solutions in the future.
The MoU was signed in the presence of top officials, including Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, and Dr. Leo Wang, Chief Financial Officer of Pony.ai. Representing RTA was Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of the Public Transport Agency, while Ann Shi, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, signed on behalf of Pony.ai.
Mattar Al Tayer praised the partnership, noting that it marks a major step towards Dubai’s Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to make 25% of all city trips autonomous by 2030. He stressed that this initiative will support first and last-mile connectivity, increase safety, and enhance convenience for both residents and visitors in the emirate.
He added that the collaboration demonstrates Dubai’s commitment to becoming a hub for future mobility, saying: “The expansion of partnerships with leading global firms like Pony.ai supports our ambition to lead globally in smart, efficient, and sustainable transport.”
Dr. Leo Wang echoed this sentiment, stating that the partnership will help establish a model for intelligent transportation ecosystems across the MENA region. He confirmed that Pony.ai’s goal is to deploy Level 4 autonomous vehicles by aligning its global technology with Dubai’s visionary urban transport strategies.
