“Air taxis will start flying in Dubai in the next three years”, confirmed Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the prime minister of Dubai in a recent tweet. He further revealed that he had approved designs for air taxi stations at the World Government Summit in Dubai
A video accompanying the tweet claims that RTA has been working with advanced air mobility companies Skyports Infrastructure and Joby Aviation to design and develop the infrastructure for an expected launch of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) operations by 2026.
The video further adds that Dubai is set to become the world's first city with a fully developed network of vertiports. The initial launch will connect four main areas: near Dubai International Airport, Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina. Each aircraft will accommodate a pilot and four passengers, with a 241km range and a 300kph top speed.
The Government of Dubai Media Office also released several photos of the aerial taxi zooming around Dubai and the first vertiport with its roof serving as the terminal for the aerial taxis. The RTA is working closely with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, General Civil Aviation Authority and Dubai Air Navigation Services to create a one-of-a-kind comprehensive framework for the operation of air taxis.
According to authorities, this mode of transport will be safe and efficient, offering smooth end-to-end passenger journey with zero operating emissions.