After desert, airport trials success, Joby air taxi heads to Dubai skies

After successfully completing a series of test flights in the Margham desert, including the UAE’s first piloted point-to-point air taxi flight that landed at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) – US flying-taxi maker Joby Aviation is gearing up to take to the Dubai skyline.

“So, we do have a progressive plan. The plan will include now to start doing more urban flights,” Anthony Khoury, General Manager – UAE at Joby Aviation, told Gulf News on the sidelines of Dubai Airshow.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has granted Joby exclusive rights to operate air taxis in the emirate for six years.

Khoury highlighted the company’s milestones so far: more than 20 A-to-A flights, 450 km covered, 2 hours and 30 minutes of flight time in Margham, and a 17-minute A-to-B flight to DWC.

“We’ve done A-to-A flights and A-to-B flights. We're going to start moving from rural areas to urban areas. So, we’re going to start doing, hopefully, flights above the city of Dubai.”

For now, the upcoming flights will remain non-commercial and will not carry passengers. Joby expects the first phase of onboard testing to involve only its own personnel.

“We’re hopefully going to take non-paying passengers – Joby employees, Joby engineers, and then move to commercial operations, meaning paying passengers. This is the progression we’re planning,” Khoury said.

Dubai residents are expected to see Joby’s air taxi flying over the city from early 2026, as the company prepares for its commercial launch next year.