2 days ago
Dubai International Airport's first vertiport to be ready in early 2026 ahead of flying taxi launch
Joby Aviation, the California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer, has revealed that the first vertiport at Dubai International Airport (DXB) is on track to completion in the first quarter of 2026, ahead of the commercial rollout of the flying taxi service.
'Our vertiport network development in Dubai, a key strategic pillar for commercial operations, remains on pace. The Dubai International Airport (DXB) vertiport, engineered for concurrent aircraft movements and rapid passenger processing, is critical infrastructure and is on track for completion in Q1 2026,' Joby Aviation said in its second-quarter 2025 report.
A vertiport is a designated area, like an airport, for the takeoff and landing of eVTOLs. Joby Aviation has been working with the Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA) and Skyports for the construction of the first vertiport for the Dubai air taxi network since November 2024.
Apart from Dubai International Airport, there will be three more vertiports in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown, and Dubai Marina in the initial phase as part of Dubai's air taxi service scheduled to launch in 2026.
Joby Aviation had been conducting extensive trials starting in June and into July in Dubai to assess the operational readiness ahead of the commercial launch.
'Joby completed 21 full-transition flights in a multi-week campaign in Dubai this summer to validate commercial readiness. The campaign validated several aspects of commercial market readiness in real-world conditions, spanning maintenance, logistics, aircraft capabilities and infrastructure,' the company said.
Dubai has successfully completed the region's first test flight of the Joby Aerial Taxi. Conducted through a collaboration between the Roads and Transport Authority and Joby Aviation, the test flight marks a major step toward launching full operations next year. The all-electric…
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) June 30, 2025
'Over the course of several weeks in June and July, we conducted a series of piloted, vertical-takeoff-and-landing wingborne flights. In addition to validating our aircraft's capabilities, this campaign solidified the operational rigour and regulatory coordination required to successfully deploy air taxi service in the region. From access to airspace for flight tests to aligning on daily operations standards, this direct, in-market regulatory engagement provided real-time feedback for operational approvals. This was a critical step on our path to carrying our first passengers in Dubai in 2026,' Joby Aviation's quarterly report stated.
In 2024, Dubai announced its plans to become the first city in the world to offer air taxi service, for which is expected in early 2026. Abu Dhabi is also set to launch its own electric air taxi service in partnership with Archer Aviation.
Flying taxis are expected to revolutionise urban transport and ease traffic congestion across more cities in the world in the coming years.
