Joby Aviation, a developer of electric air taxis, has taken the initial step towards becoming the first certified air taxi operator in the UAE. During the International Civil Aviation Organization's inaugural Advanced Air Mobility Summit in Montreal, Canada, JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, presented the company's letter of intent to His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), signalling the start of Joby's Air Operator Certificate application process.
In February 2024, Joby signed a definitive agreement with Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch air taxi services in Dubai, aiming to position the city as a leader in next-generation air mobility with fast, clean, and quiet transport solutions. This was followed in April 2024 by an expanded partnership with the UAE through a multilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), the Department of Economic Development (DED), and the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi), which will facilitate the establishment and scaling of air taxi services in Abu Dhabi and other regions.
Bevirt commented: “There is incredible momentum behind the adoption of clean flight across the UAE, and we're excited to be working with a wide range of partners, including the GCAA, to lay the groundwork for one of the world's first electric air taxi networks, delivering fast, clean and quiet journeys using our revolutionary aircraft.”
H.E Saif Al Suwaidi said: “The Letter of Intent for the operator certificate application from Joby Aviation marks a significant milestone in the UAE's journey towards becoming a global leader in EVTOL operations. Our readiness to support these advanced technologies underscores our commitment to fostering advanced air mobility solutions that will be part of the future of transportation in the UAE and beyond.”
Issued by the GCAA, the Air Operator Certificate is essential for operating commercial air transport in the UAE. Joby will undergo a five-stage application process, which includes developing comprehensive air taxi operating manuals, undergoing inspections of its UAE facilities, and completing GCAA observations of pilot and aircraft mechanic training, as well as flight operations.
