Joby Aviation to Introduce Air Taxi Service in UAE

Joby Aviation, Inc., a company developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch air taxi services in the Emirate by early 2026, with Joby aiming to begin operations as early as 2025.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, witnessed the agreement’s signing during the World Governments Summit in Dubai. It grants Joby the sole authority to run air taxis in Dubai for a period of six years, and it will establish Dubai as a global leader in the provision of the swift, quiet, and clean air travel made possible by Joby’s ground-breaking technology.

The agreement guarantees the RTA a range of support, including financial tools, for the initiation and development of service operations in Dubai. Joby also inked a contract with Skyports, which will plan, construct, and run the first four vertiport locations in Dubai. The start venues for Dubai’s air taxi service include Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, and Dubai Downtown, which have been selected in collaboration with RTA, Skyports, and Joby.

Joby’s aircraft, which debuted in the area during the World Governments Summit, is intended to transport four passengers and a pilot at up to 200 miles per hour. The company will fly it, and it will take only 10 minutes to get from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah as compared to 45 minutes by car.

Joby and the RTA have been collaborating closely with the United Arab Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to establish a legal pathway that will facilitate His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s goal of becoming a global leader in the introduction of air taxis. To maintain safety for early operations, the GCAA regulatory structure goes beyond FAA norms by including extra corporate testing and analysis, strict regulatory control, and a continuous operational review process.

Now, RTA, Joby, and Skyports will collaborate on a variety of projects, including designing customer journeys, engaging stakeholders, and integrating Joby’s service into Dubai’s larger public transport system. Joby has created a local operating business and plans to hire most of its operational crew locally in order to support the growth of its activities in Dubai.