Dubai: Air taxis set to launch in 2026, slashing travel time

• They expect to launch the project in 2026, with six air taxis initially operating on Dubai routes.
• The project will be overseen by the RTA, which will provide end-to-end service at the vertiport.
• Flight testing will begin in the UAE next year, with a target of launching the commercial service in 2026.

Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of the Public Transport Agency at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, stated that air taxis in the UAE could decrease travel time between Dubai Airport and Palm Jumeirah from 30-45 minutes to 10 minutes, achieving top speeds of 320 km/hr.

“With the speed, range, and limited charging time, these vehicles can take passengers from Dubai Airport to the vertiport in Palm Jumeirah in 10 minutes or less,” he said.

He also added that the aircraft was suitable for taking passengers between the different emirates. “The good thing is that these aircraft have a good range,” he said. “This allows us to do inter-emirates trips potentially. So there are exciting plans but initially we will be operating on Dubai routes.”

At the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024, all three parties—Skyports, which is constructing the vertiports for the taxis to land in, Joby, the aircraft operator, and the RTA, which will oversee the entire operation—signed definitive agreements, bringing the first-of-its-kind ambitious air taxi project one step closer to reality.

Ahmed stated that the project will be launched to the public in 2026. “The idea is that in 2026, we will be launching our first service with six air taxis here in Dubai,” he said. “It is a new service, maybe the first in the world at the time. There is a lot to learn. We will gauge the demand and see what people are looking for.”

He said the RTA will provide end-to-end service at the vertiport. “We control all the mobility services,” he said. “So we will make sure the vertiport is linked to the metro station. We will potentially be providing a limo service. That will be an end-to-end service.”

The aircraft:

At the WGS, they showcased a model of the Joby aircraft. The aircraft, with four passenger seats and one front seat, will initially require a pilot. Ahmed mentioned, “Eventually it could become driverless as well.”

Powered by electric energy, the aircraft will require just 10 minutes to recharge between flights and will produce minimal emissions.

JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby, disclosed that flight testing will commence in the UAE starting next year. “The goal is to begin testing in early 2025,” he said. “Our target is to launch the commercial service in 2026.”

Since 2017, the aircraft has undergone flight testing in the US and is presently undergoing safety certifications by the Federal Aviation Administration. “It has a speed of up to 320 km/hr and can go on trips of up to 160 km,” he said.

Minimal wait time:

Duncan Walker, CEO and co-founder of Skyports, stated that the process of getting into the air taxis will be zero touch. “You should be able to walk through,” he said. “No need for any tickets or passports. Straight through security using biometrics.”

The vertiports where the air taxis will park will resemble an airport but without the waiting time. “The terminals will be very high-tech and have places to catch a bite or drink,” he said. “What it will not have is the waiting times at the airport. This is a service to save time. It will be efficient and will only take a minute or two to get to the air taxi.”

The company has allocated the space needed to build the vertiports and has been conducting baseline research. Work on the vertiports will commence in June this year. “The one located at Dubai airport is going to be a real hub for us,” he said. “We have started the airspace survey, getting the electricity in and we will start building the first one in June this year. It will be ready end of 2025.”

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