Dubai is poised to revolutionize urban transportation with the introduction of flying taxis, as the city’s first vertiport, Dubai International Vertiport (DXV), remains on track to become operational by the first quarter of 2026. Located near Dubai International Airport (DXB), DXV will serve as a hub for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, offering passengers a seamless transition from air travel to their final destinations. Anthony El-Khoury, UAE General Manager of Joby Aviation, highlighted the potential of integrating existing helipads at hotels, malls, and hospitals into the air taxi network, significantly reducing travel times. For instance, a trip from DXB to Madinat Jumeirah or Burj Al Arab could take just eight minutes, compared to the usual 45-minute car journey. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has already established a regulatory framework to enable the dual use of helipads for both helicopters and flying taxis, ensuring efficient infrastructure utilization. Joby Aviation, in collaboration with Skyports and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), is developing three additional vertiport sites to expand the air taxi network. While the construction of vertiports requires substantial investment, leveraging existing helipads with minimal modifications—such as reinforcing infrastructure, adding safety features, and installing charging stations—offers a cost-effective solution. Safety remains a top priority, with each flying taxi equipped with redundant systems to prevent failures, including multiple propellers, engines, inverters, and battery packs. Test flights are currently underway at Joby’s facility in Margham, with professional pilots certified to operate eVTOLs. Paul Griffiths, CEO of DXB, expressed optimism about the transformative potential of flying taxis, which could alleviate road congestion and redefine urban mobility. Although commercial certification from the GCAA is still pending, El-Khoury assured that flying taxis will become a reality in Dubai by next year.
Deboard plane, get on flying taxis? DXB passengers to reach hotels, malls in minutes
