00:00Driverless taxis from Chinese company Apollo Go are now circulating in Abu Dhabi, the capital
00:11of the United Arab Emirates. Together with local company Auto Go, the first taxis were rolled out
00:17recently on the city's Yas Island, a popular tourist destination with various theme parks.
00:23In Dubai, meanwhile, Apollo Go is carrying out testing and has just opened an autonomous vehicle
00:29operation base as part of a larger plan to shift 25 percent of the city's urban travel
00:35to driverless modes by the year 2030. Industry analysts say both cities have open regulatory
00:42environments and strong capital support for advanced technologies.
00:47Dubai is in a strong position because it has excellent infrastructure and strong government
00:51coordination. The roads are modern, well-maintained, and clearly regulated, which is very important
00:57for driverless technology. Government entities like the RTA work closely together. We should
01:02expect new policies, but they will be well thought out, tested, and aligned with Dubai's high standards.
01:08According to industry research data, the global autonomous driving systems market exceeded
01:15US$30 billion last year and is projected to expand at a staggering compound annual growth rate
01:22of around 56 percent, taking it to above US$700 billion by 2032.
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