Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Build Airports for Flying Taxis

The first vertical airports for air taxis will appear in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The dreams of UAE residents about traveling in a flying taxi are becoming more and more real, because the Emirates will soon begin construction of the first vertical airports (vertiports) for this innovative transport.

American electric aerial vehicle manufacturer Archer has teamed up with aviation services operator Falcon Aviation to build ports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Between the two cities, Archer's Midnight air taxi, a piloted four-seater electric aircraft designed to perform fast flights with minimal recharging time, will operate between the vertiports.

The first ports will be built at Falcon Heliport at Atlantis the Palm in Dubai and at the Marina Mall heliport at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. The innovation will reduce 60-90 minute car journeys to 10-30 minute flights by electric air taxi. Flights will be safe, quiet and cost-competitive compared to ground transport.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2025, well in advance of the launch of flying taxis.

“We look forward to paving the way for the arrival of our Midnight aircraft in the region, which will set the stage for the UAE to become a global leader in urban air mobility,” said Adam Goldstein, founder and CEO of Archer.

It is worth recalling that in February 2024, the American company Joby Aviation, which develops all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger transport, signed an agreement with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch air taxi services by early 2026, with Joby planning to begin operations as early as 2025.

The company also signed an agreement with Skyports to design, build and operate four vertiports in Dubai - at Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and Downtown.