Dubai eyes air taxi launch in 2026 after successful test flight
Joby Aviation aims to help ease the burden on Dubai's increasingly congested roads by offering a faster, eco-friendly alternative for short-distance travel. 'We want to change the way people commute,' Reuters quoted Anthony Khoury, Joby's UAE General Manager, as saying.
According to the company, a trip from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Palm Jumeirah using its aerial taxi will take just 12 minutes—compared to approximately 45 minutes by car.
The future of cleaner, quieter urban travel just landed in Dubai. Today marks a significant milestone on our path to commercialization: we successfully completed a series of piloted, full-transition, electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing flights in Dubai.https://t.co/hhcCX7w8da pic.twitter.com/efq6bz1jfK
— Joby Aviation (@jobyaviation) June 30, 2025
Earlier in 2024, Joby signed an exclusive six-year contract with Dubai's Roads and Transit Authority (RTA) to operate aerial taxis in the emirate. The commercial rollout, expected in 2026, will initially connect four vertiport hubs—Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown, and Dubai Marina.
While affordability remains a long-term goal, Khoury acknowledged that the initial pricing structure may cater more to high-income travelers. 'As with any novel technology, early days might be a bit more premium,' he said.
The test flight was held on Monday at a remote desert site southeast of Dubai's downtown. Designed to simulate a typical passenger route, the electric aircraft executed a vertical takeoff, flew several miles, and returned with a vertical landing. The event was attended by senior government officials, transport executives, and Joby Aviation representatives.
The Joby Aerial Taxi is capable of flying up to 160 km at speeds reaching 320 kmph. With zero operating emissions, the fully-electric eVTOL is designed for minimal noise, making it ideal for urban use. 'It will be flying in the city, next to residential areas, and hopefully people will barely notice it,' Khoury noted.
Despite the progress, the eVTOL industry still faces challenges such as regulatory approvals and infrastructure development, particularly the construction of vertiports.
In April, Morgan Stanley downgraded Joby's stock price target from $10 to $7 due to execution risks and industry-wide concerns like supply-chain disruptions and tariffs. Joby shares currently trade at $10.55, according to Reuters.
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