Dubai Tests First Aerial Taxi with Joby Aviation

Photo: Dubai Government Media Office 

Dubai has taken a big step towards starting its Aerial Taxi services. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) worked with Joby Aviation, a company that makes special flying vehicles, to complete the first successful test flight of the Joby Aerial Taxi. This test flight took place at a desert testing site in Dubai.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, said that this achievement shows Dubai’s efforts to shape the future of travel. He explained that Dubai wants to use new technologies to make life easier and better for everyone. This aerial taxi test is a part of Dubai’s plan to build smart cities for future generations. It will help people travel quickly, create job opportunities, and make Dubai one of the best cities in the world to live, work, and visit.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel 

Many important officials watched this test flight. These included Mattar Al Tayer, Director General of RTA, and other top aviation leaders. They saw how the aircraft worked and reviewed the test facilities made with Shamal Holding. The facilities included a vertiport for take-off and landing, a hangar for keeping the aircraft safe, and electric charging stations.

The Joby Aerial Taxi is special because it can take off and land vertically like a helicopter but works with electricity, making it eco-friendly. It has six rotors and four battery packs. This flying taxi can fly up to 160 km and reach a top speed of 320 km/h. It can carry four passengers plus the pilot. Also, it makes very little noise compared to normal helicopters, making it perfect for cities.

Officials were told by JoeBen Bevirt, the Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, and Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, CEO of Dubai’s Public Transport Agency, that Dubai plans to start aerial taxi services near Dubai International Airport by 2026. The first commercial flight will happen at that time.

Mattar Al Tayer from RTA said this new service will give people a faster way to travel. For example, it will take only 12 minutes to go from Dubai Airport to Palm Jumeirah instead of 45 minutes by car. This aerial taxi will connect with other public transport like buses, metros, e-scooters, and bicycles, making travel smooth and easy for everyone.

JoeBen Bevirt of Joby Aviation said that Dubai is helping start a new era in travel. Their partnership with Dubai shows that clean and quiet flying vehicles can become a part of daily life. Joby Aviation has tested its aircraft for more than 15 years, flying over 40,000 miles in trials to make sure the aircraft is safe and ready to use.

Earlier this year, RTA signed an agreement with the General Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Skyports Infrastructure, and Joby Aviation to begin these services. This makes Dubai the first city in the world to offer aerial taxis using vertical take-off and landing technology.

In the future, people in Dubai will be able to travel quickly, safely, and without harming the environment, thanks to these new aerial taxis.