Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority, UK-based Skyports Infrastructure, and Joby Aviation, an all-electric aircraft company, have signed an agreement to launch air taxi services by 2026.
As a part of the agreement, the authority will oversee the air mobility services, Joby will provide aerial ride-sharing services, and Skyports will design, construct and operate a network of vertiports for take-offs and landings.
The first four vertiports will be located at Dubai International Airport, the Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina.
According to thenationalnews.com, an eVTOL journey from the airport to Palm Jumeirah will take 10 minutes, compared with the 45-minute journey by car.
The Joby Aviation S4 aircraft can accommodate a pilot and four passengers, fly at speeds of up to 321kph, and over distances of about 161km.
The aircraft are significantly quieter than helicopters and require less space to take off and land.
A preliminary design concept for a vertiport near the airport, features a three-floor parking structure and a vertiport terminal on the roof, connecting the airport to the Emirates Metro station.
The push for eVTOL services comes as part of Dubai’s investment in new modes of transport to reduce costly traffic congestion.
