Dubai's flying taxi plans gain momentum

The first of four planned vertiports for flying taxis in Dubai is expected to begin operations in early 2026, according to a senior official at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The project, powered by Joby Aviation, will connect key city areas, including hotels and the airport, offering a swift and safe travel option.

Khaled Al Awadhi, Director of the RTA's Transportation Systems Department, was speaking on the sidelines of the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress and Exhibition in Dubai.

Tyler Trerotola, Joby Aviation's General Manager for the Middle East, added that these fully electric air taxis will operate from four vertiports: Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and Dubai Downtown.

They are designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 320 km/h, which means passengers can get from DXB to Palm Jumeirah in 10-12 minutes - compared to 45 minutes by car.

During the World Governments Summit in February, Skyports Infrastructure, a leading provider of infrastructure for the Advanced Air Mobility industry, signed an agreement with the RTA and Joby Aviation to roll out electric air taxis in Dubai by 2026, marking a significant leap in autonomous air transportation.