Air taxis in Dubai are scheduled to be launched in the first quarter of 2026, according to Khaled Al Awadhi, Director of the Transport Technology Department at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
“We have a plan to launch the air taxi service by the first quarter of 2026. Currently, we are working with our partners Joby Aviation, an American company, on testing and certifying the aircraft. We are also starting the design phase of the vertiport stations with Skyports, a British company, which will be responsible for developing the vertiports,” he said.
According to him, a total of four vertical airports for taxis are planned to be built in Dubai, with two to be launched by the beginning of 2026.
In addition to infrastructure, a monitoring and security service will be created for air taxis, said the RTA representative.
“We are working with our partners to make this service as affordable as possible. We believe it will be much cheaper than using regular helicopters,” he noted, adding that the service will cost roughly the same as renting a limousine.
He also mentioned that the electric air taxis will operate 100 times quieter than regular helicopters.
Regarding self-driving taxis, being developed in partnership with General Motors, they will start operating in Dubai as early as 2025. The taxis are currently undergoing testing.
“We plan to make the limousine service fully eco-friendly by 2026 through the use of hybrid and electric engines. By 2035, all Dubai taxis are planned to be electric, and by 2050, the entire bus fleet will consist only of electric buses,” Al Awadhi concluded.
