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Dubai's first flying taxi vertiport to be completed at DXB in early 2026
Dubai's futuristic public transport system looks set to become a reality much sooner than we may think.
We now know that Dubai's first flying taxi station, also known as a vertiport, is on track for completion in the first few months of 2026.
The Dubai International Vertiport (DXV), set to be opened at Dubai International Airport, will be ready to go at the start of next year, according to the latest report released by flying taxi manufacturer Joby Aviation.
It will be engineered for concurrent aircraft movements and rapid passenger processing. It will be the first of four specially-built vertiports handling passengers in Dubai.
The General Civil Aviation Authority approved plans by Skyports Infrastructure for the technical design of DXV on Thursday January 9.
The authority also approved plans that would allow flying taxis to use existing helipads, meaning we could start seeing flying taxi trips in early 2026.
Joby Aviation and the RTA completed its first Dubai-based test flight in June 2025.
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai first announced the DXV vertiport plans on his official X account on Tuesday November 12.
DXB's vertiport will be the first of four to be built in the initial stage which will allow for speedy, convenient journeys between key points in the emirate without the need to hit the road.
The initiative is set to make Dubai the world's first city to offer urban aerial transport through an advanced aerial taxi take-off and landing network.
The first vertiport will be a 3,100 square metre facility with the capacity to handle 42,000 landings, 170,000 passengers annually and aircraft charging.
Phase one will also see initial stations based at Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah.
The Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai will be responsible for governance and integration with other transport modes for the aerial taxi service.
Flights will take just 12 minutes and will be affordable.
What is a vertiport?
We commenced construction on Dubai's first aerial taxi vertiport near Dubai International Airport. Spanning 3,100 sqm, the facility will have the capacity to handle 42,000 landings and 170,000 passengers annually. The initial phase will feature stations in Downtown, Dubai Marina,…
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) November 12, 2024
A vertiport is similar to an airport in that it allows vehicles, in this case a flying taxi, to take off and land.
The 'verti' part of the name comes from the fact that it will allow aircraft to take off and land vertically, so there's no need for a runway and it's able to operate in busier urban environments.
You may like: Everything you need to know about the Dubai flying taxis
The flying taxis themselves will be able to carry a pilot plus four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour.
At the vertiport, getting in and out of the air taxi will take only a matter of minutes and isn't expected to have the same stringent security checks that a flight out of DXB would take.
The manufacturers say that the vehicles won't cause pollution during flight, will be capable of carrying up to four passengers at 200 miles per hour and will be bookable through Uber at around the price of an Uber Black.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said that the service will also be integrated with other forms of public transport.
He said: 'In the initial phase, the aerial taxi service will operate from four strategic locations close to Dubai International Airport, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and Palm Jumeirah.
'This service provides Dubai residents and visitors with a new, rapid, and secure transport option to key city locations.
'For example, a journey from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah is anticipated to take approximately 12 minutes, compared to 45 minutes by car.
'The service also supports integration with public transport modes and individual transport solutions like e-scooters and bicycles, promoting multimodal transport and city-wide connectivity to deliver a smooth travel experience.'
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