Dubai residents will soon enjoy services of aerial taxis as Dubai has successfully completed the first test flight of a flying taxi developed by Joby Aviation.
The flight, conducted on Monday, sets the stage for a commercial rollout expected in the first half of 2026.
This flight was part of a series of daily test operations aimed at evaluating the performance of the air taxi in local environmental conditions, as part of preparations for the commercial launch of urban air mobility services.
City authorities plan to commence operations at an aerial taxi station near Dubai International Airport next year, which will also mark the inaugural commercial air taxi flight.
For instance, the journey from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah will take only 12 minutes by air taxi, compared to approximately 45 minutes by car.
The Joby air taxi is capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), making it suitable for urban environments where minimal horizontal space is available for such operations.
According to Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the air taxi is a sustainable and environmentally friendly electric vehicle that produces no operating emissions.
The aircraft is equipped with six rotors and four battery packs, allowing it to cover distances of up to 160 kilometers with a maximum speed of 320 kilometers per hour. It can carry up to four passengers and generates significantly less noise compared to traditional helicopters.
Dubai Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said that integrating air mobility into the city’s transport network is a major step toward developing infrastructure that meets the needs of future generations.
Meanwhile, Joby Aviation founder and CEO, JoeBen Bevirt, stated that their forward-looking strategic partnership with Dubai’s RTA is shaping a future where clean and quiet air mobility becomes the new normal.
At the start of 2024, RTA signed an agreement with the General Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Skyports Infrastructure—a UK-based developer of advanced air mobility infrastructure—and Joby Aviation to launch the air taxi service.
According to the agreement, Dubai will become the first city in the world to offer an air taxi service through advanced vertical takeoff and landing infrastructure for urban air mobility.
