UK Firm Finishes 60% of Dubai Air Taxi Vertiport

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that Skyports Infrastructure, a UK-based specialist in advanced aerial mobility infrastructure, has completed 60% of construction on the emirate’s first eVTOL aerial taxi vertiport, located near Dubai International Airport (DXB).

The RTA has also signed agreements with Emaar Properties, Atlantis The Royal, and Wasl Asset Management Group to develop additional vertiports within their major real estate destinations. These new locations will support a total of four vertiports planned for 2026, forming the backbone of Dubai’s initial electric aerial taxi route network.

According to RTA, the vertiports are being engineered to meet international safety standards and will operate alongside Joby Aviation, the aerial taxi developer, while Skyports manages design, construction, and operations. RTA will oversee regulatory governance and integration with Dubai’s wider mobility ecosystem. The aerial taxi service is expected to launch in 2026.

The primary vertiport near DXB spans 3,100 sqm across four levels and will include vehicle parking, take-off and landing pads, charging areas, and fully air-conditioned passenger terminals. Once operational, it is projected to support 42,000 aerial taxi landings annually, serving around 170,000 passengers.

Skyports CEO Duncan Walker highlighted the significance of this milestone, calling it “a historic moment” for advanced aerial mobility as Dubai positions itself to become the first city globally to bring the technology into real-world use. The service promises zero-emission, high-speed transportation that will reshape travel across dense urban zones.

Separately, RTA and Joby Aviation completed the UAE’s first crewed eVTOL flight between two distinct locations. The aircraft flew from the Dubai Jetman Helipad in Margham to Al Maktoum International Airport in a 17-minute journey coinciding with the Dubai Airshow 2025. Joby is now the first company worldwide to complete such a flight within the UAE.

Joby confirmed that its electric aerial taxis generate no emissions, seat four passengers plus a pilot, and operate at noise levels significantly lower than helicopters. With six rotors and four battery packs, the aircraft can travel up to 160 km and reach speeds of 320 km/h.

RTA Director General Mattar Al Tayer stated that this milestone reinforces Dubai’s leadership in future mobility and accelerates the city’s path toward commercial service launch in 2026. The system will create a new high-speed option for both residents and tourists—cutting the travel time from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah to around 10 minutes, compared to 45 minutes by car.

Joby Aviation CEO JoeBen Bevirt emphasized that rapid progress in testing and infrastructure brings Dubai close to operating the world’s first commercial air taxi network. The company continues working with RTA, GCAA, DCAA, and DANS to enable full-scale deployment.

‍