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Abu Dhabi signs multiple deals to launch air taxi services in 2025

By Divsha Bhat
Joby Aviation's CEO JoeBen Bevirt (2nd left) at the signing of a multilateral agreement with the three Abu Dhabi government departments Joby
Joby Aviation's CEO JoeBen Bevirt (2nd left) at the signing of a multilateral agreement with the three Abu Dhabi government departments
  • Joby Aviation signs deal with ministries
  • Investments for Archer Aviation’s air taxi
  • VTOL aircraft to be made in UAE

A commute from Abu Dhabi to Dubai could take only 30 minutes next year, with the introduction of air taxi services significantly slashing travel time between the emirates.

The electric aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation signed agreements this week with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport, Department of Economic Development and Department of Culture and Tourism for the Californian company to establish and expand air taxi operations in the UAE capital. 

Joby’s aircraft are designed to accommodate a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200mph (321km/h) with zero operating emissions, Abu Dhabi Media Office reported.

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“We look forward to seeing their innovative aircraft take-off from the UAE capital, offering the world a glimpse, through Abu Dhabi, of what the future of mobility looks like,” said Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman of the DMT.

Joby Aviation has an existing agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority to launch passenger air taxi services in the emirate in 2025.

On Thursday Abu Dhabi also pledged substantial investments to Archer Aviation’s air taxi services within the emirate. 

Archer, another California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) developer, aims to start operations by next year. 

The agreement between Archer and Abu Dhabi Investment Office covers constructing a vertiport, facilitating operations and manufacturing Archer’s Midnight aircraft in the UAE. The Midnight is a piloted four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time.

Last month, Archer and the UAE’s Falcon Aviation signed an agreement where the two will develop air taxi vertiports at the Falcon heliport at Atlantis, the Palm in Dubai and the Marina Mall heliport on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi.

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