Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in collaboration with Joby Aviation, has completed the world’s first crewed electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aerial taxi flight between two distinct locations in the UAE.
The electric aerial taxi took off from the Dubai Jetman Helipad in Margham and flew for 17 minutes to Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai World Central), coinciding with the Dubai Airshow 2025. This accomplishment makes Joby the first company globally to execute a crewed point-to-point eVTOL flight within the UAE.
RTA confirmed that Skyports Infrastructure, the UK-based advanced aerial mobility infrastructure developer, has completed 60 percent of the construction of Dubai’s first vertiport near Dubai International Airport (DXB), marking the highest point of the structure. The vertiport is the first of its kind worldwide.
The authority has also signed agreements with Emaar Properties, Atlantis The Royal, and Wasl Asset Management Group to establish additional vertiports across their major developments, laying the foundation of Dubai’s aerial taxi network.
#RTA and Joby Aviation have completed the first crewed eVTOL aerial taxi flight from Margham to Al Maktoum International Airport, marking a new milestone in the #UAE’s record of innovation in sustainable mobility.#Dubai is steadily progressing toward the commercial launch or… pic.twitter.com/lr8GQqxGWr
— RTA (@rta_dubai) November 16, 2025
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, stated that the successful completion of the first crewed electric aerial taxi flight marks a significant milestone in Dubai’s long-standing leadership in innovation. Al Tayer said the achievement reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to ensure Dubai remains the best city in quality of life and the global leader in future mobility.
Al Tayer added that the test flight validates the efficiency of Dubai’s operational framework and its ability to integrate aerial mobility within shared airspace. Al Tayer highlighted that the development of the vertiport near DXB and the new agreements with major developers reinforce the emirate’s efforts to expand its advanced air mobility infrastructure.
The RTA reiterated that Dubai is on track for the commercial launch of aerial taxi services in 2026. The service is expected to dramatically reduce travel time. Joby Aviation CEO JoeBen Bevirt said the collaboration with Dubai’s RTA and aviation authorities is accelerating progress toward launching the world’s first commercial air taxi service. Skyports Infrastructure CEO Duncan Walker added that Dubai is setting a global precedent in advanced aerial mobility by nearing completion of the world’s first operational vertiport network.
Joby’s aerial taxi is a fully electric VTOL aircraft equipped with six rotors and four battery packs, offering a range of up to 160 kilometers and a top speed of 320 km/h. It can accommodate four passengers and one pilot and produces significantly lower noise than traditional helicopters making it ideal for urban environments.
The primary vertiport near DXB spans 3,100 square meters across four floors and includes take-off pads, parking and charging areas, and air-conditioned passenger facilities. It is expected to handle about 42,000 landings annually, serving nearly 170,000 passengers. Additional vertiports will be located at Dubai Mall Zabeel (Emaar), Atlantis The Royal, and Dubai Marina (Wasl), forming the initial aerial taxi route network for 2026.
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