08-04-2025
- Automotive
- Arabian Business
EXCLUSIVE: First flying cars to hit UAE skies in 2027 at $799,000 per vehicle
Dutch company PAL-V has secured final regulatory approval for its flying car after a 12-year certification process, paving the way for the world's first commercially available flying car to debut in the United Arab Emirates by early 2027, the company's chief commercial officer told Arabian Business.
The two-seat PAL-V Liberty, priced at $799,000, will begin production next year in the Netherlands with initial European deliveries scheduled for late 2026, followed shortly by rollout in the UAE through regional partner Jetex.
'We just had last Thursday the final signature of IATA,' Marco van den Bosch, Chief Commercial Officer of PAL-V, said in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Investment Meeting Congress on Monday.
'After nearly 12 years of certification, we got the final 'there's no objection'. So everything is okay now for IATA and FAA,' he added, referring to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the US Federal Aviation Administration.
The dual-mode vehicle operates as both a car on roads and transforms into a gyroplane for flight, offering a unique solution to urban congestion while catering to the luxury transportation market in the region.
Final verification flights
Before commercial rollout, the company will conduct 100 hours of 'verification flying' in early 2026, Van den Bosch explained.
'It's not test flying anymore, because it's a finished product,' he said, emphasising that regulatory hurdles that typically take 10-12 years for new aircraft have now been cleared.
The vehicle, which represents a significant advance in personal mobility, will be introduced first in Europe before expanding to the UAE through the company's partnership with Jetex, a leading private aviation services provider in the region.
'We have a fantastic partner [Jetex]. We have worked now on not only selling the flying car, but you have to build a kind of ecosystem,' Van den Bosch said, explaining that infrastructure for maintenance and operations is already being developed.
The company will conduct demonstration flights in Dubai and across the UAE beginning in late 2026, with plans to establish dedicated training centres for new owners.
Built for sandy conditions
The PAL-V Liberty has been specifically designed to handle desert environments, making the UAE an ideal market, according to the company.
'If you look at the machine, it's very good in what they call sandy conditions. Normally, [combining] sand and engines is a problem,' Van den Bosch said. 'For example, the helicopter starts flying amongst sand, and then it will sand blast your engines.'
The flying car requires relatively modest infrastructure — a takeoff area of just 200 metres by 30 metres — which can be established in various locations throughout the region. For landing, the space requirement is even smaller at just 30 metres.
'These are grassroots or sandy overall… it's very small,' Van den Bosch explained, adding that the gyroplane design offers significant safety advantages, including the ability to make emergency landings in very limited spaces.
'The great thing about the gyroplane is that we have two engines in it. These are redundant, so if one fails, I still can fly. If they both fail, I've got a kind of flying parachute, which means that I can steer, and I only need zero to 30 metres to do a landing or an emergency landing.'
Dual licensing requirement
Owners will need both a driving licence and a private pilot licence to operate the vehicle, with PAL-V offering an expedited training programme designed for busy entrepreneurs.
'We made a special private training, because these are all entrepreneurs and have money, but time is also essential. So we put that in six times five days,' Van den Bosch said, describing a focused training regimen that combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills.
The company has established a flight school in the Netherlands and plans to open additional facilities in Italy and the UAE to support the growing customer base.
Market positioning
At $799,000, the PAL-V Liberty represents a significant investment, but the company positions it as cost-effective compared to alternatives like helicopters.
'It's nearly 10 times cheaper to fly this than a helicopter,' Van den Bosch claimed, adding that the PAL-V can perform '90 per cent of the helicopter roles' including observation, medical services, and logistics.
The company sees strong demand from both government agencies and wealthy individuals looking to avoid traffic congestion in major cities. Interestingly, about 90 per cent of the current customer base consists of individuals who have never flown before, Van den Bosch revealed.
'The only two solutions for [traffic congestion] is either into the ground or into the air,' he said. 'So a lot of things are happening, and they say the next 10 years will see more changes than in the past 100 years.'
Regional expansion plans
Following the UAE launch, PAL-V aims to expand across the Middle East, with its partnership with Jetex covering the entire UAE market initially.
'We made a deal with Jetex for the whole UAE,' Van den Bosch confirmed, adding that the company has previously showcased its vehicle in Saudi Arabia and sees potential for further regional growth.
The company chose the UAE as its Middle East entry point due to the region's high spending power, suitable climate conditions, and existing aviation infrastructure through Jetex.
'With the partner Jetex, we already have the flying environment. They already have the DNA of flying. So we're very happy and it's easy to work with Jetex,' he said.
As urban mobility continues to evolve, PAL-V believes the time is right for flying cars to become a reality, with Van den Bosch expressing complete confidence in the market's readiness.
'Because the materials are there, the safety possibilities are like 100 per cent, and if you look at the mobility, specifically in and around the big cities, it's going to be a mess in the coming 10 years,' he said.
For residents of Dubai, the flying car could dramatically reduce travel times during peak hours. 'If I have to go from, let's say, the south to the north of Dubai… I can fly it in five minutes,' Van den Bosch said.
