Air mobility
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Could be the world's first commercial eVTOL passenger service, putting the UAE ahead in air-mobility regulation, infrastructure and operations.
The programme aims to start the world's first commercial electric air taxi service in Dubai, using the S4, a piloted eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft made by Joby Aviation of California. The S4 carries a pilot and up to four passengers with four carry-on bags. It has six tilting propeller units with five blades each: they point up for take-off and landing and tilt forward for cruise. Joby quotes a top speed of up to 200 mph (174 knots) and noise of 45 dBA in cruise at 500 m. Uber quotes a range of up to 100 miles per charge.
Origins: on 11 February 2024 Joby signed a definitive agreement with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). It gives Joby the exclusive right to run air taxis in Dubai for six years; one later source says the six years start once commercial service begins. The RTA also offered support, including financial mechanisms, for launch. Skyports was named to design, build and operate four vertiports. The aim then was commercial service by early 2026, with first operations possible in 2025. A trip from Dubai International (DXB) to Palm Jumeirah was expected to take about 10 minutes, against about 45 minutes by car.
Key dates: on 11 September 2024, at the ICAO Advanced Air Mobility Summit in Montreal, Joby gave the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) a letter of intent, its first step towards an Air Operator Certificate (AOC). On 12 November 2024 work began on the DXB vertiport, a 3,100 m² building with two take-off and landing areas, charging and parking, sized for up to 42,000 landings and about 170,000 passengers a year. On 30 June 2025 Joby said it had delivered its first aircraft to the UAE and flown piloted vertical take-offs and wing-borne flights in Dubai. Its Margham desert test campaign reached 21 flights, about 450 km and more than 2.5 hours in the air, including full piloted transitions. On 9 November 2025 a piloted S4 flew 17 minutes from Margham to Al Maktoum International Airport, which Joby calls the UAE's first point-to-point electric air taxi flight. Joby also flew daily demonstrations at the Dubai Airshow 2025. On 25 February 2026 Uber and Joby launched "Uber Air", booked in the normal Uber app, with Dubai as the first city. On 7 July 2026 the GCAA and Skyports announced certification of VDX at Dubai International, which they describe as the world's first purpose-built commercial vertiport (four storeys, about 3,100 m²).
Setbacks: the February 2024 plan aimed for first operations in 2025 and commercial service in early 2026; neither date was met. In November 2025 the GCAA said UAE air taxi certification would be finished in Q3 2026; no source opened says that was achieved. The vertiport list also changed: in 2024 the four sites were DXB, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and Downtown Dubai; in November 2025 Joby named DXB, Atlantis The Royal (Palm Jumeirah), Dubai Mall (Downtown) and American University in Dubai, so Dubai Marina dropped out.
Status (Nov 2026): on 15 October 2026 a GCAA delegation led by Aqeel Al Zarooni, Assistant Director General for Aviation Safety Affairs, held certification, airworthiness and operations workshops at Joby's California sites; no approval was announced. Joby says it will carry passengers only once all requirements are met, including a GCAA AOC. In its Q3 2026 letter (4 Nov 2026) Joby said the second Dubai vertiport is complete (site not named) and that it plans "operational flight testing" across the network "later this year, with a pilot on board". The letter gave no Dubai passenger date. In February 2026 Joby had said it expected its first Dubai passengers "later this year". In the US, Joby says stages one to three of the FAA's five-stage type certification are complete, with FAA pilot training and Joby's own flight testing expected in the first half of 2027. Joby has 17 aircraft in production.
Next: pilot-only operational flights between Dubai vertiports (planned late 2026), the GCAA AOC and aircraft approval, then the first passenger flights. The RTA and Joby still speak of a 2026 launch, but Joby's November wording makes a passenger start before the end of 2026 uncertain. No date has been published.
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11 Feb 2024
Joby signed a definitive agreement with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) giving it the exclusive right to run air taxis in Dubai for six years, with Skyports to build four vertiports.
Why it matters: It makes Dubai one of the first cities with a signed, government-backed air taxi launch plan.
11 Sep 2024
At the ICAO Advanced Air Mobility Summit in Montreal, Joby gave the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) a letter of intent, its first step towards an Air Operator Certificate (AOC).
Why it matters: The AOC is the licence Joby needs before it can carry paying passengers in the UAE.
12 Nov 2024
Work began on the first vertiport at Dubai International Airport, a 3,100 m² building with two take-off and landing areas, sized for about 170,000 passengers a year.
Why it matters: Ground infrastructure is often slower than the aircraft, so a start on site was a key signal.
30 Jun 2025
Joby delivered its first aircraft to the UAE and flew piloted vertical take-offs and wing-borne flights in Dubai, starting market-readiness work with the RTA, DCAA and GCAA.
Why it matters: Flying in Gulf summer heat is the real test of battery and cooling performance for the region.
Jun–Nov 2025 (campaign; reported 18 Nov 2025)
Joby flew 21 test flights in the Margham desert, about 450 km and more than 2.5 hours in total, including full piloted transitions from hover to wing-borne flight.
Why it matters: Completing transitions in local conditions builds the evidence base the GCAA will rely on.
9 Nov 2025
A piloted Joby aircraft flew 17 minutes from its Margham test site to Al Maktoum International Airport, the first point-to-point electric air taxi flight in the UAE.
Why it matters: Airport-to-site flying shows the aircraft working within real airspace and airport procedures.
17 Nov 2025
Joby named Dubai Mall, Atlantis The Royal and American University in Dubai as the next vertiport sites, with Emaar, Atlantis and Wasl as property partners.
Why it matters: The final network shape decides which routes passengers can fly first; Dubai Marina dropped out of the 2024 list.
25 Feb 2026
Uber and Joby unveiled "Uber Air powered by Joby", booked through the Uber app with car legs at each end, with Dubai named as the first city.
Why it matters: Booking through a mainstream ride app could speed passenger uptake once flights are approved.
7 Jul 2026 (announced)
The GCAA and Skyports announced certification of the four-storey VDX vertiport at Dubai International, described as the world's first purpose-built commercial vertiport, sized for up to 170,000 passengers a year.
Why it matters: A certified hub removes one of the main hurdles to launch and sets a template for other Gulf cities.
15 Oct 2026 (reported; visit date not given)
A GCAA team led by Aqeel Al Zarooni held certification, airworthiness and operations workshops at Joby's California facilities; no approval was announced.
Why it matters: It shows the regulator is still working through requirements, so launch timing depends on the GCAA's next decisions.
4 Nov 2026 (reported in Q3 letter)
Joby said the second vertiport in its Dubai network is complete; the site was not named.
Why it matters: Two finished vertiports allow the first real point-to-point network flights.
Late 2026 (Joby: "later this year")
Joby plans to begin operational flight testing across its Dubai vertiport network, with only a pilot on board.
What to watch: Watch whether these flights start on time; they are the dress rehearsal for passenger service.
Not dated (needed before passenger flights)
Joby says it will carry passengers only once all safety and certification requirements are met, including a GCAA Air Operator Certificate; no award had been reported by 9 Nov 2026.
What to watch: Watch for the AOC award, the clearest signal that paid flights are imminent.
2026 (RTA target; no date announced)
The RTA and Joby have targeted a 2026 launch of passenger service from the DXB vertiport, but Joby's November 2026 update gave no passenger date.
What to watch: Watch whether service starts before year-end; a slip into 2027 would affect suppliers, ground handlers and investors planning around Dubai.
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Partners drawn from Joby, Uber, Skyports, RTA and trade-press announcements as of 9 Nov 2026. Joby builds most of the aircraft itself (motors, batteries, propellers and flight software are in-house), so few outside suppliers are published; battery-cell, actuator, landing-gear and seat suppliers are not published. No Air Operator Certificate, aircraft approval or passenger launch date has been announced.
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| Compared item | Seats | Speed / range | Pilot | Gulf status (latest found) | Certified by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joby S4, Dubai (reference) | 4 passengers + pilot | up to 200 mph / up to 100 miles | Piloted | VDX vertiport certified Jul 2026; second vertiport complete; pilot-only network flights planned late 2026; no AOC or passenger date yet | Not yet certified (GCAA, FAA in progress) |
| Archer Midnight, Abu Dhabi (USA) | 4 passengers + pilot | up to 150 mph / up to 100 miles | Piloted | GCAA Restricted Type Certificate track since 7 May 2026; no passenger service yet | Not yet certified (GCAA, FAA in progress) |
| Eve eVTOL (Eve 100), Brazil | 4 passengers + pilot | speed not published / 100 km (60 miles) | Piloted | No UAE programme found; prototype in transition testing in Brazil | Not yet certified (ANAC target end 2028) |
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