By Staff Reporter
Dubai has reached a major milestone in future mobility with the successful completion of its first crewed electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aerial taxi flight between two distinct UAE locations.
The 17-minute trip—from the Dubai Jetman Helipad in Margham to Al Maktoum International Airport—took place during the Dubai Airshow 2025, underscoring the city’s growing leadership in sustainable aviation.
Conducted by Joby Aviation in partnership with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the achievement makes Joby the first company globally to complete a crewed eVTOL flight across two sites in the UAE. The test marks a key step in Dubai’s plan to integrate aerial taxis into its wider urban mobility network.
RTA reported that Skyports Infrastructure has already completed 60% of Dubai’s first aerial taxi vertiport near Dubai International Airport. Additional vertiports are planned within developments by Emaar Properties, Atlantis The Royal, and Wasl Asset Management Group, all supporting the target of launching commercial aerial taxi services in 2026.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of RTA, said the milestone reflects Dubai’s commitment to innovative, sustainable mobility solutions, cementing its status as a global hub for advanced transport. Joby Aviation CEO JoeBen Bevirt noted that the achievement brings the city significantly closer to making air taxis a part of everyday travel.
Joby’s fully electric aircraft seats four passengers plus a pilot, has a 160-kilometre range, and reaches speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour. Its VTOL capabilities enable efficient operations in dense urban zones with minimal noise, offering a quicker alternative to road transport.
With vertiport development and continued testing underway, Dubai aims to seamlessly integrate aerial taxis into its transport ecosystem, boosting connectivity across business districts, tourist attractions, and residential communities.
Source: Emirates News Agency
