TLDRs;
- Baidu, WeRide, and Pony AI expand to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore, surpassing U.S. competitors in global robotaxi rollout.
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi offer regulatory support and infrastructure for China’s autonomous driving ambitions.
- Singapore’s tough safety standards still require onboard operators, but Chinese firms see long-term potential.
- Teleoperation partnerships and 5G-enabled monitoring are emerging as the next frontier in global robotaxi deployment.
China’s leading autonomous vehicle developers including Baidu, WeRide, and Pony AI, are steering their robotaxi fleets beyond domestic borders, marking a significant step in the global race for autonomous mobility.
Recent expansions into Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore underscore China’s growing dominance in the robotaxi sector, while American rivals such as Waymo, Tesla, and Zoox remain largely confined to home markets.
The global rollout comes after China resumed issuing robotaxi testing permits in early 2025, following a temporary regulatory pause. Authorities have since elevated autonomous driving to a strategic national priority, encouraging major players to pursue overseas testing and partnerships as part of China’s broader push to export advanced mobility technology.
Middle East: The New Testing Ground
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a key proving ground for Chinese autonomous vehicle firms. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) currently allows trial operations with strict conditions, vehicles must operate in mapped zones and include a safety driver or fallback control systems.
WeRide, one of China’s most aggressive robotaxi exporters, is already testing driverless vehicles in Abu Dhabi, calling its program “the first fully driverless robotaxi operation outside of China and the United States.” The company aims to move from limited pilot trials to fully commercial driverless operations by 2026, pending regulatory approval.
Dubai, known for its futuristic infrastructure and ambitious smart city goals, provides an ideal environment for these trials. Supportive policies, 5G infrastructure, and dedicated AV testing zones have made it a magnet for Chinese tech companies seeking faster regulatory clearance and global visibility.
Singapore: Strict Rules, Big Potential
In Singapore, both WeRide and Pony AI are laying the groundwork for limited ride-hailing services in collaboration with local partners. However, Singapore’s regulations are among the toughest in the world.
Before achieving full autonomy, robotaxis must pass the country’s Milestone 3 certification, a high-level safety and operational test for unmanned vehicles. So far, no company has publicly cleared this milestone, meaning all current trials require onboard safety personnel.
Still, the city-state’s robust testing ecosystem, led by the Centre of Excellence for Testing & Research of Autonomous Vehicles (CETRAN), provides a structured pathway for international companies to adapt to local standards. Chinese firms see Singapore not just as a market but as a strategic launchpad for expansion into other ASEAN economies.
The Hidden Growth Frontier
As driverless fleets expand globally, teleoperation, the remote monitoring and assistance of autonomous vehicles, is emerging as a vital complementary industry. Regulatory frameworks in both the UAE and Singapore require continuous vehicle oversight, black-box data recorders, and real-time safety management systems.
This creates lucrative opportunities for teleoperation vendors who can provide integrated monitoring, compliance, and incident response platforms. Partnerships between Chinese OEMs and local telecom providers could deliver the next wave of innovation, leveraging 5G and multi-access edge computing (MEC) to manage fleets from centralized control hubs.
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