In Pictures: Abu Dhabi gets cracking on electric air taxis and verti-ports

Prospects of 30-minute trip – or less – air taxi trips between Abu Dhabi and Dubai are showing up clearly on the radar. If all goes to plan, these could be an option for travelers as early as 2025-26.

Government agencies in Abu Dhabi have entered agreements with electric vertical take-off and landlord aircraft manufacturers and service providers, such as Archer Aviation and Joby. Operators too have been identified – and the focus right now is build those verti-ports to handle these inter-city travel.

The UAE’s first operational verti-port for eVTOLs went on display in Abu Dhabi. The ‘temporary’ facility is based on a comprehensive regulatory framework set by the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority.

“The UAE's GCAA initiative in establishing the world's first national regulation on verti-ports last year paved the way for advanced air mobility in the UAE, ensuring the availability of safe and suitable infrastructure to accommodate eVTOL aircraft,” says Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of GCAA.

The regulation covers the design, operations, and certification provisions for verti-ports on land and on the sea.

Closer to the full service launch of air taxi services, more verti-ports will be built in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. What these services will do is provide faster transportation options and with the added benefit of doing so through ‘green’ means. This is where the ‘e’ in eVTOLs comes in.

“The collaboration between Abu Dhabi Investment Office and AD Mobility will see verti-ports setup in strategic locations across Abu Dhabi, including major business hubs and tourism destinations,” says Abdulla Al Marzouqi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Mobility. “Once complete, the vertiport network will be a key enabler of Abu Dhabi’s SAVI cluster. This is an exciting time for mobility in Abu Dhabi.”

As for the actual aircraft, deals have been reached with aircraft makers for the air taxis. Typically, these would take on four persons plus the pilot.

Plans entail a lot of the manufacturing of these light aircraft being done in-country. The deals also extend to operational and manpower training.