Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of the Public Transport Agency of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), stated that Dubai is poised to become the first city in the world to introduce a commercial air taxi service after US-based Joby Aviation successfully completed full-scale test flights. This historic accomplishment puts Dubai at the forefront of a global race to transform urban transportation through electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, also referred to as air taxis. He noted that an exclusive contract that was signed in 2024 and grants Joby Aviation six years of operational rights in the emirate supports the project.
The first vertiport, which is situated behind the Emirates Airline headquarters at Dubai International Airport, is already under construction. The American University of Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Mall will all have additional vertiports built nearby, forming a robust intra-city network for short-haul flights.
Each aircraft has a range of more than 200 kilometers and a top speed of more than 300 kilometers per hour. It can accommodate four people, a pilot, and luggage. This would enable less than half an hour to travel between cities, such as to Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, or Fujairah. The air taxi service will launch as a premium offering, catering to business travelers and affluent visitors, even if the fare has not yet been decided.
