UAE’s upcoming "hybrid heliport" can be used for helicopters, flying taxis

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has accepted the design for the country’s first hybrid heliport at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port as part of the Abu Dhabi Air Taxi project. A first in the UAE, the heliport is designed to accommodate both helicopters and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft like Archer’s Midnight, UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced Wednesday.

The heliport is planned as part of Archer’s broader infrastructure network in the UAE, with early air taxi commercial operations planned with Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA).

GCAA said that the heliport has been developed in collaboration with AD Ports Group, Falcon Aviation Services and Archer Aviation.

The GCAA said it has become the first civil aviation authority to develop regulatory standards for hybrid infrastructure—a framework designed to support the efficient operation of helicopters and eVTOLs from a single platform.

These proposed standards are being finalised and are on track for publication by July 2025. Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA, said, “Through close collaboration with Archer, AD Ports Group, and Falcon Aviation Services, we are enabling a future where sustainable, high-tech air transport becomes a core part of our urban landscape. This approval represents a new era for civil aviation, driven by partnership and vision.”

The hybrid heliport will serve as a key launch point for the Abu Dhabi Air Taxi service, which is planned for rollout by 2026 and will connect key locations across the city.

Aqeel Al Zarouni, Assistant Director General of the GCAA – Aviation Safety Affairs Sector, said, “This framework ensures that our air mobility infrastructure is safe, efficient, and adaptable—laying the foundation for the seamless integration of both helicopters and next-generation eVTOL aircraft within a unified operational environment.”

Adam Goldstein, CEO and co-founder of Archer, the company partnering on the air taxi project, stressed the strategic use of existing aviation resources and said, “Leveraging existing aviation assets is a cornerstone of our launch strategy. It allows us to move quickly and safely—getting critical infrastructure ready for our planned commercial air taxi launch.”

GCAA also decided to choose the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port as a site for the heliport as it sees the entry of over 650,000 visitors every year.

It is also a gateway to the capital’s cultural and leisure destinations, such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Saadiyat Cultural District. “Falcon Aviation Services operates sightseeing Heli-tours from this location, allowing visitors to experience the city from above and explore Abu Dhabi’s landmarks,” GCAA has said.

Captain Ramandeep Oberoi, CEO of Falcon Aviation Services, said the facility can enhance Abu Dhabi’s tourism offerings.

Meanwhile, Noura Rashed Al Dhaheri, CEO of Cruise Business at AD Ports Group, “Our facility at Zayed port, in addition to our operational efficiency, will enable us to provide faster and more sustainable services to our customers.”