Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, recently highlighted that air taxis will commence operations in Dubai within a period of three years.
The Dubai ruler took to Twitter to announce that during the World Government Summit he approved the design for air taxi stations.
He tweeted, “We approved today the design of the new flying taxi stations in Dubai, which will start operating within three years.”
With this announcement, Dubai will become the first city in the world with a fully developed network of vertiports.
The upcoming flying taxis will have a top speed of 300 km/hr and a maximum range of 241 km, accommodating one pilot and four passengers.
The initial launch network will connect four major locations in Dubai: near Dubai International Airport, Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Marina.
According to the video which accompanied Sheikh Mohammed’s Twitter post, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has been collaborating with leading companies, Skyports Infrastructure and Joby Aviation, to design and build the infrastructure for the anticipated launch of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) operations in 2026.
The video showcases air taxis flying past iconic landmarks in Dubai, such as the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Frame, and Burj Al Arab. The aim is to provide a seamless end-to-end passenger experience with zero emissions. With vertical take-off and landing capabilities, the aircraft will have a quick turnaround time.
