Posted by Natasha Dury
Pony.ai, a global leader in autonomous driving technology, has reached a new milestone in its international journey: securing a permit from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to conduct autonomous driving trials on the emirate’s roads. The announcement was made at the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport 2025, where the company showcased its latest robotaxi model and reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the Middle East.
This step not only represents the company’s entry into one of the world’s most ambitious smart mobility ecosystems but also underscores Dubai’s role as a global benchmark for the adoption of future-ready transport technologies.
Global expertise meets Dubai’s vision
Founded in 2016, Pony.ai has grown into a pioneer for autonomous driving, offering solutions for both passenger mobility and goods transportation. Its vehicles have collectively logged more than 50 million kilometers on public roads, including over 10 million kilometers driven completely without a safety driver. Today, the company operates fully driverless robotaxi services in four of China’s most complex and high-density Tier-1 cities—Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou—making it the only AV company to do so simultaneously in all four.
Ann Shi, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, explained how this experience will inform the company’s deployment in Dubai: “China is a vast and diverse testing ground. We’ve operated in extreme weather, from scorching heat to typhoons, and in some of the world’s most congested traffic conditions. That foundation gives us confidence that our technology can quickly adapt to Dubai’s infrastructure and environment.”
The UAE, she added, is a natural next step in Pony.ai’s globalization roadmap. “Dubai is a metropolitan city with enormous demand for mobility, driven by both a growing resident population and international visitors. Beyond that, we found the RTA to be forward-thinking and deeply knowledgeable about autonomous mobility, which is crucial for creating supportive policies and sustainable deployment.”
Collaboration with RTA
Pony.ai’s permit to test on Dubai roads is the outcome of an evolving partnership with the RTA, which has identified autonomous mobility as central to its Vision 2030 strategy. The goal: transform 25% of urban trips to smart and autonomous transport solutions by the end of the decade.
For Shi, the collaboration is about creating the right ecosystem: “When introducing a new technology, it’s vital to develop policies that are encouraging yet clear, with benchmarks that set standards for the industry. Our dialogue with RTA is about sharing insights, receiving guidance, and ensuring we build an ecosystem where multiple players can thrive.”
Looking ahead, Pony.ai has bold ambitions for the Middle East. “We plan to deploy 1,000 robotaxis in the region over the next three years,” Shi confirmed. The expansion will not stop with Dubai: the company has previously announced pilot projects in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, making the GCC a strategic hub for its international growth.
“Technology alone doesn’t make the transportation landscape. You need partnerships across every layer of the system. It has to be built step by step, moving from dozens of cars to hundreds, and eventually thousands,” Shi said.
One of the most frequently asked questions is whether technology developed in China can seamlessly transition to Dubai’s roads. For Shi, the answer lies in the adaptability of Pony.ai’s software and hardware. “Every market has differences in road infrastructure and traffic behavior, but those differences are minor and can be localized quickly. With our in-house sensor cleaning systems, even sand or dust in the Middle East climate won’t pose significant challenges.”
As for pricing, Pony.ai intends to strike a balance between market competitiveness and long-term value. “In China, our fare rates are benchmarked to the market. We don’t engage in low-price competition because we want customers who value the service. In Dubai, we’ll adapt to local models, sometimes partnering with taxi operators or ride-hailing platforms, while ensuring the product remains premium and sustainable.”
Shaping the future of urban mobility
Dubai’s ambition to convert 25% of trips to autonomous by 2030 is among the most ambitious mobility strategies in the world.
For Dubai’s residents and visitors, the arrival of robotaxis promises a future where commuting is safer, more efficient, and more sustainable. For Pony.ai, it signals the dawn of a new chapter in its global journey.
As Shi summed it up: “Dubai sits at the intersection of East and West, making it the perfect benchmark for the future of autonomous mobility. Our vision is autonomous mobility everywhere, and Dubai is the ideal stage to demonstrate what that future looks like.”
All about wheels 