RTA and Joby Aviation mark a historic milestone with the UAE’s first crewed eVTOL aerial taxi flight ahead of a 2026 launch.
DUBAI: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in partnership with Joby Aviation, has successfully conducted the first-ever crewed electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aerial taxi flight between two separate locations in the UAE. This flight, lasting 17 minutes, travelled from the Dubai Jetman Helipad in Margham to Al Maktoum International Airport and coincided with the opening of the Dubai Airshow 2025.
This historic achievement makes Joby Aviation the first company globally to perform a crewed eVTOL flight UAE, marking a significant step towards launching commercial air taxi services in 2026.
The aerial taxi, powered by electric energy and capable of vertical take-off and landing, is designed for sustainable urban mobility. It features six rotors, four battery packs, and offers a range of 160 km at speeds up to 320 km/h, accommodating four passengers and a pilot. Notably, it operates with significantly reduced noise compared to traditional helicopters, making it ideal for city environments.
RTA also revealed that 60% of construction is complete on the world’s first dedicated vertiport near Dubai International Airport, developed by UK-based Skyports Infrastructure. This four-storey facility includes take-off and landing areas, aerial taxi charging stations, and fully air-conditioned passenger lounges, designed to handle around 170,000 passengers per year.
To support this revolutionary mobility network, RTA has signed agreements with Emaar Properties, Atlantis The Royal, and Wasl Asset Management Group to build three additional vertiports across the city in strategic locations such as Dubai Mall Zabeel, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Marina.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of RTA, praised the milestone as a demonstration of Dubai’s leadership in crewed eVTOL flight UAE and its commitment to future-ready infrastructure. He noted that these achievements align with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to position Dubai as the world’s most innovative and liveable city.
JoeBen Bevirt, CEO of Joby Aviation, said, “From flight demonstrations to infrastructure, we’re making incredible progress. We’re closer than ever to making air transport a reality for everyone in the UAE.”
The eVTOL service aims to reduce travel time dramatically—for instance, a trip from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah could take just 10 minutes. The service will also be integrated with other modes of public and personal transport, offering a seamless multimodal experience for passengers.
With regulatory and operational frameworks in place and partnerships spanning public and private sectors, Dubai is on track to become the world’s first city to offer full-scale crewed eVTOL flight UAE services by 2026.
