Flying taxis to connect DXB, Palm Jumeirah by 2026

Electric air taxis could be transporting passengers from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah by 2026 – on quiet, emissions-free journeys that take around 10 minutes.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and US-based Joby Aviation signed an agreement to launch an all-electric air taxi service in the emirate, with the flying taxi firm targeting initial operations as early as 2025.

“The aerial taxi service offers a novel and efficient mobility option for Dubai’s residents and visitors, enabling fast, safe, and convenient travel to key city spots,” said Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA.

“The service is also set to enhance the integration with various public and individual mobility means such as taxis, e-scooters and bicycles, thereby facilitating seamless multimodal transportation, improving citywide connectivity, and ensuring a smooth travel experience for passengers.”

The agreement, which was signed at the World Governments Summit, provides Joby with the exclusive right to operate air taxis in Dubai for six years.

The deal secures a variety of support from the RTA, including financial mechanisms, for the entry and maturing of service operations in Dubai.

Similarly, Joby signed an agreement with Skyports Infrastructure, which will design, build and operate four initial vertiport sites across Dubai.

Joby advances Dubai’s smart mobility strategy

RTA, Skyports and Joby identified Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and Dubai Downtown as the launch locations for Dubai’s air taxi service.

The project is part of RTA’s future mobility initiatives, aimed at providing transportation services for both Dubai residents and visitors.

Joby’s S4 Aerial taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 322km (200 miles) per hour.

Its vertical take-off and landing capability makes it efficient for urban environments, eliminating the need for extensive horizontal space typically required for conventional stations.

To support the development of its operations in Dubai, Joy has established a local operating entity and intends to recruit locally for the majority of its operational team.

The flying taxi company is also considering the localisation of other global business activities in Dubai and across the region.

RTA will oversee advanced air mobility services as part of the agreement, Joby an aerial ridesharing service and Skyports have the exclusive rights to design, construct and operate a network of vertiports.

Flying taxis in the UAE

Meanwhile, Joby will participate in the Abu Dhabi Investment Office’s (ADIO) Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster as part of its broader strategy to explore operations across the UAE.

The shift to sustainable mobility in the UAE is being accelerated by government-led initiatives that are advancing the development of infrastructure such as vertiports and eVTOL MRO facilities.

Last October, Air taxi maker Archer Aviation partnered with ADIO to launch air taxi services across the UAE.

Abu Dhabi is set to be the eVTOL maker’s first international market outside the US. Under the agreement, ADIO aims to support Archer through incentives for setting up its first global headquarters and factory in the SAVI cluster.

Read: How Archer aims to revolutionise travel in the UAE