Baidu Explores Robotaxi Service in Dubai Amid Chinese Tech Expansion in the Middle East
China's tech powerhouse, Baidu, is contemplating the introduction of its robotaxi service in Dubai, marking another move by Chinese companies to broaden their presence in the Middle East. The company, which secured a testing license in Hong Kong for its Apollo Go robotaxi service, is in discussions with the United Arab Emirates to launch the service in the financial hub of the Middle East, as per a source familiar with the matter.
Baidu's CEO, Robin Li, recently participated in the World Government Summit in Dubai, where he engaged in a panel discussion with Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE's minister of state for AI, digital economy, and remote work applications. During the event, Li highlighted the safety of Apollo Go vehicles, claiming that its autonomous driving system is "10 times safer" than human drivers.
The Apollo Go service is currently operational in 11 cities in mainland China, with a fleet of over 400 robotaxis in Wuhan alone. By November 2024, the service had provided 8 million rides nationwide. Baidu's move to expand to Dubai aligns with a trend of Chinese tech firms venturing into the Middle East.
WeRide, an autonomous driving startup based in Guangzhou, China, has partnered with Uber to offer robotaxi rides in Abu Dhabi, with plans to introduce a fully driverless commercial service in the city later this year. Additionally, Tencent Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Tencent Holdings, announced the launch of its first Middle East Cloud Region in Saudi Arabia, with an investment exceeding $150 million in infrastructure and other areas over the coming years.
Hu Dan, vice-president of Tencent Cloud International for the Middle East and North Africa, described the new cloud region as a significant milestone in the company's growth strategy. Chinese tech giants like Huawei Technologies and Alibaba Group Holding have also established a presence in the region, with Alibaba notably owning the South China Morning Post.
Furthermore, Chinese food delivery giant Meituan, operating as Keeta in Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, is extending its services to more countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Keeta was launched in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, in September and has since expanded to Riyadh, with plans for further expansion into additional cities in the region.
Baidu is considering launching its robotaxi service in Dubai, following its success in mainland China.
Chinese tech companies like WeRide and Tencent Cloud are also expanding their presence in the Middle East.
Meituan's food delivery service, Keeta, is set to grow in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Source: SCMP