UAE unveils world’s first air taxi station near Dubai Airport

The United Arab Emirates has unveiled what is described as the world’s first dedicated air taxi station near Dubai International Airport, marking a major step in the emirate’s push to build an advanced urban mobility network.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, inspected the newly completed facility on April 16, as reported by Emirati outlet The National.

The site includes two take-off and landing pads, vehicle charging infrastructure, and a two-storey car park. It is designed to handle around 170,000 passengers annually, with commercial air taxi services expected to begin by the end of the year.

The station will serve as the central hub for Dubai’s planned air taxi network, with additional vertiports planned at Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Marina, forming an initial four-point system.

“Today, we take another step forward with the completion of the first air taxi station, reaffirming our commitment to shaping the future of mobility,” Sheikh Hamdan said. “Expanding transport options, from the metro and buses to smart and air mobility, remains central to building a global city that puts people first.”

He added that Dubai remains committed to building an integrated, multi-layered transport system powered by advanced technologies.

The project is being developed by Skyports Infrastructure, which is delivering the hub near Dubai International Airport. Joby Aviation is responsible for aircraft production and flight operations, while Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority oversees integration with the wider transport system.

Mattar Al Tayer, director general of the Roads and Transport Authority, said the journey between Dubai International Airport and Palm Jumeirah is expected to take around 10 minutes, compared with roughly 45 minutes by car.

“The service will also support integration with the public transport network, as well as individual mobility modes such as electric scooters and bicycles, facilitating multimodal journeys, enhancing connectivity across the city, and delivering a seamless passenger experience,” he said.

The UAE has been accelerating efforts to introduce new transport modes aimed at easing congestion and offering faster mobility options for residents and visitors.

Joby Aviation previously completed the UAE’s first piloted point-to-point air taxi flight in November 2025, covering a 17-minute route between Margham and Al Maktoum International Airport. The company also conducted 21 test flights during the summer to assess performance in high-temperature conditions.

The capital of the UAE is pursuing similar ambitions. In November 2025, Abu Dhabi Airports announced plans to build more than 10 vertiports for air taxi and eVTOL operations, as part of efforts to improve connectivity across the capital and other emirates. The emirate has also partnered with US firm Archer Aviation to launch air taxi services from 2026.

By Nazrin Sadigova