Watch: RTA reveals locations to ride aerial taxis in Dubai

Dubai: Dubai has taken another decisive step toward launching the world’s first urban aerial taxi network in 2026, after the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Joby Aviation completed the UAE’s first crewed electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flight between two separate locations.

RTA has also revealed four key locations where passengers will soon be able to board the city’s flying taxis.

The breakthrough flight took off from the Dubai Jetman Helipad in Margham and landed 17 minutes later at Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai World Central), coinciding with the Dubai Airshow 2025.

The mission makes Joby the first company globally to complete a crewed eVTOL point-to-point flight within the UAE, reinforcing Dubai’s lead in advanced air mobility.

Locations to ride aerial taxis

Central to the upcoming service is a new network of vertiports strategically placed across the city. RTA announced that Skyports Infrastructure has reached 60% completion of the first vertiport located near Dubai International Airport — set to be the primary hub for aerial taxi departures.

Three more vertiports will be developed through new agreements with major developers:

Emaar Properties: A vertiport in the Zabeel Dubai Mall parking area, serving the Burj Khalifa district and the UAE’s busiest retail hub

Atlantis The Royal: A station atop Palm Jumeirah offering direct access to luxury resorts, beaches, and entertainment centres

Wasl Asset Management Group: A vertiport at Dubai Marina, at the American University in Dubai (AUD) parking zone, linking one of Dubai’s busiest residential districts to business hubs like Dubai Internet City.

DXB Vertiport: The first vertiport is being completed adjacent to the Emirates headquarters near Dubai International Airports

These four locations form the city’s initial aerial taxi corridor, providing direct connections between the airport, central business districts, beachfront destinations and high-density neighbourhoods.

Park and Ride

With the DXB vertiport now structurally topped out, Dubai is on track to have the world’s first multilevel eVTOL station, spanning 3,100 sqm across four floors including two levels dedicated to vehicle parking and maintenance, charging facilities, dedicated take-off and landing pads, and temperature-controlled passenger lounges. The station alone is expected to support 42,000 landings a year, serving nearly 170,000 passengers.

A new achievement

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at RTA, said the flight marks a transformative moment.

He said: “Completing the first flight marks a new achievement added to Dubai’s distinguished record of leadership and innovation in developing the aerial mobility system in the Emirate.”

Al Tayer added that the milestone was achieved thanks to the city’s future-focused leadership.

He continued that the step “reflects the visionary outlook of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and aligns with the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktou, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, to position Dubai at the forefront of global cities investing in innovation and advanced technologies to serve humanity.”

Skyports

Al Tayer added: “The significant progress made by Skyports Infrastructure Limited in establishing the Aerial Taxi Vertiport near Dubai International Airport, along with the agreements signed with three major entities in Dubai to create vertiports within their development projects, reinforces RTA’s efforts to expand the network of aerial taxi stations and vertiports across the Emirate.”

Al Tayer said the service will provide a fast and convenient transport option, noting: “The journey from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah is expected to take about 10 minutes, compared to roughly 45 minutes by car.”

He reiterated: “RTA is steadily progressing towards the commercial launch of the aerial taxi service in 2026, solidifying Dubai’s position as the city of the future and a global hub for innovative and sustainable urban mobility solutions.”

Aircraft tested in UAE conditions

The milestone flight follows a series of operational tests conducted earlier this year in Margham, where Joby’s aircraft was evaluated under Dubai’s environmental and airspace conditions. These tests were conducted with the support of RTA, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) and Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS).

Daily flight demonstrations are also taking place throughout the Dubai Airshow 2025, offering aviation regulators and industry visitors a close look at Dubai’s emerging air mobility system.

Joby and Skyports: Ready for 2026

JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, said Dubai’s air mobility programme is advancing rapidly.

He said: “From flight demonstrations to infrastructure, we’re making incredible progress on all fronts as we look ahead to launching commercial passenger service in Dubai next year.”

Skyports Infrastructure CEO Duncan Walker said the vertiport completion marks a turning point in the global adoption of aerial mobility.

He said: “Vertiports are fundamental to the success of the advanced aerial mobility system … Dubai positions itself to become the first city in the world to make advanced aerial mobility a tangible reality.”

What the aerial taxi can do

Joby’s aircraft is a five-seat, fully electric air taxi featuring six rotors, top speeds of 320km/h, and a range of up to 160km. It emits no pollutants, operates far more quietly than helicopters, and can take off and land vertically — enabling deployment from rooftops, malls, and compact urban spaces.

First city in the world

Dubai set to be first city to operate full aerial taxi network

At the start of 2024, RTA formalised its aerial taxi agreement with GCAA, DCAA, Skyports and Joby, making Dubai the first city committed to operating a regulated network of electric vertical mobility routes.

With vertiports advancing, the first point-to-point crewed flight completed, and developers locked in, Dubai is now entering the operational phase of its air mobility programme. The city remains on track to offer residents and visitors a safe, fast and fully sustainable new mode of transport by 2026 — an achievement no other global city has yet reached.