Chinese autonomous driving companies have temporarily suspended commercial robotaxi operations in Dubai following regional missile strikes that affected parts of the United Arab Emirates.
Baidu’s Apollo Go said it has paused testing and ride-hailing services in Dubai in line with local government arrangements and safety considerations, according to a report by China Star Market. The company said it has made appropriate arrangements for its local team and will resume operations when authorities provide further guidance.
WeRide has also halted its robotaxi fleet in Dubai and is awaiting notification to restart services, the report said. However, WeRide’s robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh continue to run normally.
The suspensions follow an escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, with reports of damage to hotels and infrastructure, including Dubai International Airport. The Jumeirah district, where both Apollo Go and WeRide operate in partnership with Uber Technologies, has been cited as one of the affected areas.
WeRide began public robotaxi services with Uber in parts of Dubai, including Jumeirah, in December 2025. Apollo Go had been preparing to introduce fully autonomous services in the emirate next month.
Despite the temporary disruption to its Middle East expansion, Apollo Go recently surpassed 20 million cumulative global ride orders and continues to advance operations in other markets, including South Korea.
