Dubai is set to launch highly-anticipated flying taxis as early as the last quarter of 2025, marking a significant leap in the future of transportation in the UAE. This innovative mode of travel is not only aimed at alleviating traffic congestion but also redefining the sector with advanced, futuristic technology.
Air taxis, expected to become operational sooner than anticipated, will introduce an aerial ridesharing service that integrates conventional ridesharing with flight services. This service will ensure seamless travel from home or office to the final destination. Tyler Trerotola, General Manager of California-based Joby Aviation, announced this development two months ago, confirming that Joby’s electric air taxi launch has been advanced from 2026 to the end of 2025. Joby is also working on integrating first- and last-mile ridesharing services to transport customers from their origin to any of the four vertiports in Dubai and then to their final destination.
In terms of flight safety, Trerotola mentioned that they have conducted about 60,000km of test flights. Archer Aviation, another US-based air transport company, has completed over 400 test flights of 'Midnight' in preparation for its launch next year. Additionally, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced the construction of the first air taxi station near Dubai International Airport (DXB), part of Dubai’s vision to become the world’s first city to offer urban aerial transport.
The high-speed air taxis, capable of reaching up to 320km/h, could reduce travel time between DXB and Palm Jumeirah from 30-45 minutes to just 10 minutes. Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of the Public Transport Agency at Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), highlighted the potential for inter-emirates trips with these aircrafts.
Etihad Rail, another significant development, is set to connect 11 cities and regions across the UAE, spanning from Al Sila to Fujairah. The 900km-long Etihad Rail network, when completed, will connect all seven emirates and 11 major cities from Ghuweifat to Fujairah and beyond. The UAE is also the first Gulf country to announce rail connections to its neighboring countries.
Dubai Metro, the cornerstone of the city’s public transport network, has served over 2.4 billion riders since its inception in 2009. The Executive Council of Dubai has announced plans to expand Dubai Metro stations to 140 stations by 2040, aiming to increase the share of public transport to 45% and reduce carbon emissions to 16 tonnes per capita.
Dubai authorities are also studying dedicated lanes for autonomous vehicles, including a dedicated flight path for aerial taxis. Uber Technologies is set to introduce self-driving cars in Abu Dhabi, partnering with China's WeRide to launch autonomous vehicles on its platform.
Autonomous water taxis are planned for Abu Dhabi, while Dubai has started the trial operation of a driverless electric abra. The RTA’s autonomous vessel, manufactured locally, retains the heritage identity of abras and boasts zero carbon emissions and lower operating costs.
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