Dubai residents looking to experience autonomous travel have a no-cost option: Apollo Go is offering complimentary rides in its self-driving vehicles through its dedicated app, covering select neighborhoods including Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim.
Booking a free trip requires downloading the Apollo Go app and registering an account. From there, users select a pickup and drop-off point within the designated service zone — a route between Jumeirah Mosque and Umm Suqeim, for instance, falls within the current coverage area. The car is unlocked upon arrival using a one-time password generated in the app.
Worth noting for anyone who spots Apollo Go vehicles on Uber: the free ride is exclusive to Apollo Go’s own app. Khaleej Times reported that the same autonomous taxi appears as a paid service on Uber, where the fare for a Jumeirah Mosque-to-Umm Suqeim trip was listed at Dh81.20. That puts it roughly in line with — or slightly above — standard Uber options, which ranged from Dh63 to Dh80 for the same stretch.
Although the vehicles are built for fully driverless operation, a safety specialist may occasionally be present during trips. The app itself flags this possibility, reflecting that the service remains under active monitoring at this stage.
The gradual rollout is consistent with Dubai’s broader autonomous transport ambitions. The emirate has a standing target of having autonomous vehicles account for 25 percent of all trips by 2030, and the Apollo Go deployment — free rides included — marks one of the more tangible steps toward that goal for everyday residents.
