Dubai to Launch Electric Air Taxi Service by 2026

Joby, which has signed a six-year agreement with RTA, claims that a trip from the airport to Palm Jumeirah will take only 10 minutes

Californian-based electric aircraft company Joby Aviation has signed an agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch air taxi services in the Emirate by early 2026. The company said it is targeting initial operations as early as 2025. The agreement, signed at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, provides Joby with the exclusive right to operate air taxis in Dubai for six years.

Electric Air Taxi

Joby’s aircraft, which was displayed in the region for the first time at the World Governments Summit, is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. A journey from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah is expected to take just 10 minutes compared with 45 minutes by car.

The agreement secures a variety of support from the RTA, including financial mechanisms, for entry and maturing of service operations in Dubai. Joby and the RTA have been working closely with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE to ensure there is a regulatory route to support Dubai’s vision of being a world leader in the introduction of air taxis. The GCAA regulatory framework builds upon FAA standards with additional company testing and analysis alongside a high level of regulator oversight and an on-going operational review process to ensure continued safety for early operations.

Mattar Al Tayer, director-general, chairman of the board of executive directors for RTA, said the air taxi service is part of RTA’s efforts to embrace future transportation technologies and offers a novel and efficient mobility option for Dubai’s residents and visitors, “enabling fast, safe, and convenient travel to key city spots”. He added, “This service will also enhance seamless multimodal transportation, improving citywide connectivity, and ensuring a smooth travel experience for passengers.”

Joby additionally signed an agreement with Skyports, which will design, build and operate four initial vertiport sites across Dubai. RTA, Skyports and Joby have worked together to identify Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and Dubai Downtown as the launch locations for Dubai’s air taxi service.

Today’s landmark agreement delivers on all three ingredients required to successfully launch an air taxi service – a definitive path to operations, well-placed infrastructure supported by dedicated partners, and an aircraft with the capacity and range to deliver meaningful journeys.

JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO, Joby Aviation

“We’re looking forward to delivering an incredible experience for residents and visitors to Dubai as early as 2025 and we’re excited to be laying the groundwork for the expansion of our service across the wider UAE,” added JoeBen.