The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in collaboration with Joby Aviation, confirmed the achievement throughout the Dubai Airshow 2025 as regulatory, infrastructure and check operations speed up.
The crewed electrical aerial taxi flew 17 minutes from the Dubai Jetman Helipad in Margham to Al Maktoum Worldwide Airport (Dubai World Central), making Joby the primary firm globally to finish such a journey throughout the UAE.
Vertiports in Dubai
The RTA additionally introduced that Skyports Infrastructure, the UK-based developer of superior aerial mobility amenities, has accomplished 60 per cent of building on Dubai’s first vertiport.
Positioned close to Dubai Worldwide Airport (DXB), the mission has now reached its highest structural level and is the primary of its sort worldwide.
Extra vertiports might be developed underneath agreements between RTA and Emaar Properties, Atlantis The Royal, and Wasl Asset Administration Group.
These might be positioned on the Zabeel Dubai Mall parking space, on Palm Jumeirah inside Atlantis The Royal, and at Dubai Marina throughout the American College in Dubai car parking zone.
4 vertiports are deliberate for the preliminary 2026 community.
Future mobility
Mattar Al Tayer, Director Normal, Chairman of the Board of Government Administrators of RTA, mentioned the profitable crewed flight displays the imaginative and prescient of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to place Dubai as a worldwide chief in good and sustainable mobility.
He mentioned: “The profitable completion by Joby Aviation of the primary aerial taxi flight between two distinct places underscores the success of RTA’s operational framework for creating Dubai’s aerial mobility ecosystem and its functionality to function inside a shared airspace.
“This milestone paves the best way for a brand new part of integration amongst good mobility methods throughout the emirate, additional strengthening the arrogance of worldwide companions in Dubai’s regulatory and technological surroundings and establishing it as a number one world platform for future mobility trials.”
He added that progress on the DXB vertiport and new agreements with main Dubai builders reinforces RTA’s technique to develop its community of aerial taxi stations throughout the emirate.
Quick, handy journey
Al Tayer mentioned the aerial taxi service represents a serious step towards safer, extra environment friendly and extra sustainable modes of transport.
The journey between Dubai Worldwide Airport and Palm Jumeirah is predicted to take round 10 minutes, in contrast with roughly 45 minutes by automobile.
He continued: “The aerial taxi will supply a particular new service for residents and guests of Dubai in search of a quick, protected, and handy option to journey between key locations throughout town… supporting seamless multimodal journey and strengthening citywide connectivity to ship a clean and cozy passenger expertise.”
Aerial mobility ambitions
JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, mentioned: “From flight demonstrations to infrastructure, we’re making unbelievable progress on all fronts as we sit up for launching industrial passenger service in Dubai subsequent yr.
“By working alongside the RTA, different authorities companies and infrastructure companions, we’ve been capable of streamline improvement of the world’s first air taxi service and are nearer than ever to creating city air transport an on a regular basis actuality for residents and guests throughout the UAE.”
Skyports CEO Duncan Walker acknowledged: “Vertiports are elementary to the success of the superior aerial mobility system. With this pivotal milestone reached, we’re witnessing a historic second within the sector’s journey as Dubai positions itself to turn out to be the primary metropolis on the planet to make superior aerial mobility a tangible actuality.”
Joby’s eVTOL plane
Joby’s electrical air taxi is designed for city environments, with vertical take-off and touchdown functionality, six rotors, 4 battery packs and nil operational emissions.
The plane has a spread of as much as 160km, a high pace of 320kmph, and seats 4 passengers plus a pilot. The corporate continues common flight testing in partnership with RTA, DCAA, GCAA and DANS.
The primary vertiport close to DXB spans 3,100sq m throughout 4 flooring, together with take-off pads, charging zones, parking areas and air-conditioned passenger amenities.
It’s designed to deal with round 42,000 landings yearly, serving roughly 170,000 passengers.
All vertiports are being constructed to worldwide security requirements. Skyports will deal with design, building and operations, whereas RTA oversees governance and integration with wider transport networks.
2026 launch plan
RTA’s aerial taxi initiative follows a 2024 settlement with Joby Aviation, Skyports Infrastructure Restricted, the Normal Civil Aviation Authority and the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.
Below this partnership, Dubai is ready to turn out to be the primary metropolis on the planet to supply city aerial transport by way of a community of vertical take-off and touchdown aerial taxis.
Business operations are scheduled to start in 2026.
