The first hybrid heliport in the UAE has been approved by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port. This is a component of the ambitious Abu Dhabi Air Taxi project. The hybrid Heliport is a revolutionary step toward integrated, sustainable air transportation throughout the emirate, having been developed in strategic partnership with AD Ports Group, Falcon Aviation Services, and Archer Aviation.
The UAE's first hybrid heliport, which offers a flexible, future-ready paradigm for urban mobility, can handle both conventional helicopters and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft like Archer's Midnight.
The Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port, a major hub for the regional cruise industry that welcomes over 650,000 tourists annually, is where the first site was selected. It also serves as a gateway to the most well-known leisure and cultural attractions in the city, offering quick access to the Saadiyat Cultural District and the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
In order to facilitate the safe, interoperable, and effective operation of both helicopters and eVTOLs from a single platform, the GCAA has emerged as the world's first civil aviation body to create regulatory standards for hybrid infrastructure.
The Abu Dhabi Air Taxi service, which is scheduled to debut by 2026 and connects strategic locations throughout the city with silent and effective air mobility options, will be primarily launched from the hybrid Heliport.
With the help of a strong public-private partnership, the Abu Dhabi Air Taxi initiative puts the emirate at the forefront of the global AAM industry and establishes a standard for cities looking to include eVTOLs into their transportation systems.
