DUBAI: Traffic congestion in Dubai will soon be a thing of the past as the city successfully completed the first test flight of its flying taxi, marking a major step towards futuristic urban transportation.
The electric-powered aircraft, developed in collaboration with US-based Joby Aviation, flew from Margham, an industrial and logistics hub on the outskirts of Dubai, to Dubai World Central (Al Maktoum Airport) ahead of the 2025 Dubai Airshow.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) briefed Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on the progress of the project, which aims to introduce air taxis as part of an integrated, smart and sustainable transportation system.
The air taxi is ecological and ultra-quiet, capable of flying at speeds of up to 320 km/h with capacity for four passengers.
According to Dubai officials, the next phase will include test flights in urban areas before the service becomes available to the public in 2026.
Skyports Infrastructure is building the first air taxi vertiport near Dubai International Airport, featuring two landing pads and modern passenger facilities, designed to support the city’s vision of seamless and sustainable mobility.
