Inside Dubai’s air taxi launch: Joby Aviation UAE chief on scaling urban air mobility
In the UAE, local test flights have validated performance under regional conditions, including recent operations in Margham and at Al Maktoum International Airport
04 May, 2026
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Dubai’s ambition to redefine urban mobility has taken a tangible step forward with the completion of its first air taxi station near Dubai International Airport. Developed through a partnership between Skyports, Joby Aviation, and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, the four-storey vertiport is designed to support electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft ahead of a planned commercial launch in 2026.
For Anthony El-Khoury, UAE general manager at Joby Aviation, the milestone signals a decisive shift from concept to execution.
“The completion of the vertiport is a significant moment, not just symbolically, but structurally,” he says. “It marks the point at which the conversation shifts from what we’re building to how we’re bringing it to life.”
While the physical infrastructure is now in place, moving to full passenger operations requires alignment across multiple layers of aviation, technology, and user experience.
“The path to passenger operations comes down to three core areas: certification, operational readiness, and ecosystem integration,” El-Khoury explains.
Certification remains a critical step, with Joby working closely with the General Civil Aviation Authority to validate both the aircraft and the operating model. At the same time, the company is finalising pilot training programmes, flight procedures, and ground operations to ensure consistency and reliability.
“The infrastructure is in place. Now it’s about execution,” he adds.
Integration, however, may prove the most defining factor. Air taxis will need to operate seamlessly within Dubai’s broader transport ecosystem, from airspace coordination to passenger booking platforms.
Anthony El-Khoury, UAE general manager at Joby Aviation
Testing the limits in UAE conditions
Joby’s readiness for commercial operations has been shaped by extensive testing under real-world UAE conditions, including extreme heat and environmental stress.
“The UAE testing programme was a critical phase for us because it allowed us to validate performance in real operating conditions,” El-Khoury says.
One of the biggest technical challenges was thermal performance. Operating in temperatures approaching 43°C required detailed analysis of how battery systems, motors, and onboard electronics behave under sustained heat.
The company also tested performance in low-density air, where high temperatures reduce lift efficiency, as well as exposure to sand, dust, and humidity.
“These are not simulated conditions, but the actual environment we’ll be operating in commercially,” he notes.
The outcome, according to Joby, was consistent performance and stability, reinforcing confidence as the company moves toward certification.
The Dubai vertiport is designed to handle up to 170,000 passengers annually, but early adoption will be deliberately phased.
“In the early phases, we expect demand to build progressively. We will start our operations with a small fleet and build from there,” El-Khoury says.
Rather than focusing on immediate scale, the strategy is centred on delivering a premium, reliable experience that drives repeat usage.
“What gives us confidence is the market itself. There is already strong demand in Dubai for efficient, time-saving transport,” he adds.
The expectation is that once passengers experience the time savings such as a potential 10-minute journey between key locations, adoption will accelerate organically.
Designing a network, not a route
Dubai’s initial air taxi rollout will include four key vertiports: Dubai International Airport, Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Marina. These locations were selected based on detailed analysis of movement patterns across the city.
“The four stations were selected based on extensive analysis of people movement data across Dubai, identifying the corridors where demand is highest,” El-Khoury says.
The station features a four-storey facility covering 3,100 square metres, alongside a two-level parking structure, two dedicated air taxi take-off and landing pads, and specialised charging infrastructure for the aircraft. It also includes climate-controlled passenger areas designed to accommodate up to 170,000 travellers annually.
The system will operate as a point-to-point network, with aircraft moving between vertiports at regular intervals. Over time, this network approach is expected to expand both within Dubai and across the UAE, including potential routes to Ras Al Khaimah.
A key part of the user experience will be integration with ground transport, enabled through Joby’s partnership with Uber.
“Passengers will be able to combine air taxi and ground journeys in a single, seamless trip,” he explains.
For any new mode of transport, passenger confidence is critical. Joby is positioning safety as the core of its value proposition, embedding it across design, testing, and regulatory compliance.
“Safety is absolutely fundamental, it’s built into every layer of the system,” El-Khoury says.
The aircraft itself incorporates multiple redundancies, including six propellers with dual-wound motors, independent battery systems, and backup flight control systems. Globally, Joby has flown over 50,000 miles as part of its testing programme and is in the final stages of certification with the Federal Aviation Administration.
In the UAE, local test flights have validated performance under regional conditions, including recent operations in Margham and at Al Maktoum International Airport.
“While the technology is new, the safety framework is well established,” he adds.
Built for urban environments
Unlike traditional aircraft adapted for city use, Joby’s eVTOL aircraft are designed specifically for urban environments.
“Our eVTOL aircrafts aren’t adapted for urban environments, they’re designed for them,” El-Khoury says.
This distinction is critical in addressing challenges such as heat, air density, noise, and limited landing space. Distributed electric propulsion enables stable lift and control, while the aircraft’s acoustic profile is significantly lower than that of helicopters.
In dense urban settings, this combination of efficiency, manoeuvrability, and reduced noise is essential for scalability.
One of the most compelling aspects of air taxis is the promise of predictable travel times in a city where road congestion can be unpredictable.
“The goal isn’t just a fast journey. It’s a journey you can plan around,” El-Khoury says.
Operating within controlled airspace ensures consistency, with routes designed in coordination with aviation authorities. While factors such as weather and airspace management will still play a role, variability is expected to be significantly lower than ground transport.
“What this model fundamentally changes is the variability,” he explains. “Ground transport in Dubai is subject to congestion, unpredictability… An air route doesn’t have those variables.”
A blueprint for global expansion
Beyond its immediate impact on Dubai’s transport network, the project represents a broader strategic milestone for Joby Aviation.
“Dubai is much more than just an early market for Joby,” El-Khoury says. “What we’re building here… is a blueprint that can be adapted to other cities globally.”
The combination of government vision, regulatory agility, and private sector collaboration has created an environment where advanced mobility concepts can move rapidly from pilot to commercial deployment.
For Joby, success in Dubai will not only validate the aircraft, but the entire ecosystem — from vertiports and regulatory frameworks to passenger experience and operational integration.
“Getting it right here is how we scale it everywhere else,” El-Khoury concludes.
As Dubai positions itself at the forefront of advanced air mobility, the transition from infrastructure to operations will determine whether air taxis evolve from a headline innovation into a viable, scalable mode of transport.
