The aerial taxi is an example of Dubai’s commitment towards smart and sustainable transportation and a step closer to actualising the Dubai Self-Driving Strategy.
The Museum of the Future in Dubai has debuted the first look of aerial taxis developed by the Roads and Transport Authority in collaboration with Joby Aviation. The plan for this project was laid in 2024, and operations will commence in 2026.
The aerial taxi is an example of Dubai’s commitment towards smart and sustainable transportation and a step closer to actualising the Dubai Self-Driving Strategy. Aerial taxis are part of the initiative to complete 25% of self-driving tips by 2030. Under the broader goal of improving sustainability, these taxis are electrically powered and will facilitate the reduction of carbon emissions.
Gulf News reported that Khaled Al Awadhi, the Director of Transportation Systems at RTA’s Public Transport Agency, said that the aerial taxis will have vertical take-off and landing capabilities and are in line with the highest safety and security guidelines, ensuring passengers are at no risk. It was first announced in 2024 that these air taxis would be designed as drones or eVTOL (Electronic Vertical Take-off and Landing) models and would be capable of carrying five members, including the pilot. This has been designed to connect key destinations across the Emirate, reducing travel time by more than half, offering a practical solution to the city’s traffic congestion.
The aerial taxis are part of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) initiatives, and the process to obtain the necessary certifications began in 2024. Emiratis have to wait until 2026 to take their first air taxi, and the initial routes mapped out include Dubai International Airport, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and Palm Jumeirah, where vertiports will be set up.
In January 2025, it was announced that the first air taxi station would be unveiled. The Dubai International Vertiport (DXV) will begin operations in 2026 and will be a significant leap for the Emirate’s aviation industry. The airport will be situated next to Dubai International Airport (DXB) and will be the first of the four planned air taxi stations across the UAE.
Skyports Infrastructure, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and Joby Aviation aim to establish a world-class network of vertiports in the UAE and the technical design for DXV has already been cleared by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), meaning the vertiport will be built in compliance with the UAE Vertiport Regulations which was introduced recently.
The vertiport will have an annual capacity of 42,000 landings and will accommodate 170,000 passengers. While Skyports Infrastructure will be in charge of the design, construction and operations of the vertiport, vehicle operations and passenger logistics will be handled by Joby Aviation. The vertiport project has a comprehensive evaluation project which centres around factors such as airspace management and obstacle clearance. With safety being marked as one of the top priorities, rescue and firefighting services (RFFS) will be included, catering to traditional as well as battery-powered aircrafts. Spanning 3,100 sq. meters, the vertiport will include electric charging stations for the air taxis and passenger waiting areas with high-security features.
The air taxis are a quieter alternative to helicopters with six rotors, four battery packs, a range of up to 161km and a maximum speed of 322 km/h. Known as the Joby S4, this zero-emission vehicle can minimise a 45-minute car ride to 12 minutes by air. In order to get to these vertiports, various public transport systems, e-scooters and bicycles will be integrated to improve connectivity across Dubai.
Dubai is set to revolutionise urban mobility services through its air taxi initiatives. Through new and sustainable technologies, international safety standards and prioritising innovation, the UAE is on track to tackle vehicular traffic, which is one of the most common urban challenges across the world.
