Joby Aviation secures agreement to launch air taxi service in UAE by 2026

Joby Aviation, a pioneer in developing all-electric aircraft for commercial passenger service, has inked a definitive agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to introduce air taxi services in the Emirates by early 2026, with initial operations set to commence as early as 2025.

The agreement, formalised at the World Governments Summit in Dubai in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, grants Joby the exclusive right to operate air taxis in Dubai for six years. This landmark agreement positions Dubai as a global leader in providing fast, clean, and quiet air travel facilitated by Joby’s ground-breaking technology. The RTA is committed to providing various forms of support, including financial mechanisms, to facilitate the entry and maturation of Joby’s service operations in Dubai.

In addition to the agreement with the RTA, Joby has partnered with Skyports, tasked with designing, building and operating four initial vertiport sites across Dubai. Through collaboration with the RTA and Skyports, key launch locations for Dubai’s air taxi service have been identified, including Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and Dubai Downtown.

Joby’s cutting-edge aircraft, unveiled for the first time in the region at the World Governments Summit, is engineered to accommodate a pilot and four passengers, flying at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. Joby will operate the service, with the journey from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah anticipated to take just ten minutes, compared to the 45-minute car journey.

To facilitate the realisation of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s vision for Dubai to be a world leader in air taxis, Joby and the RTA have closely collaborated with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE. The GCAA’s regulatory framework, building upon FAA standards, includes extensive company testing, analysis, robust regulatory oversight and an ongoing operational review process to ensure safety during early operations.

Moving forward, RTA, Joby and Skyports will collaborate on various aspects, including customer journey design, stakeholder engagement and the seamless integration of Joby’s service into Dubai’s broader public transport network. Joby has established a local operating entity to support its operations in Dubai and plans to recruit locally for the majority of its operational team. The company is also exploring the potential localisation of other global business activities in Dubai and across the region, aligning with its participation in the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster established by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).