A newly signed definitive agreement, endorsed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, prime minister and vice president of the United Arab Emirates, gives Skyports exclusive rights to build and operate vertiports in Dubai.
The agreement is the first time globally that a transport authority, vertiport operator, aircraft manufacturer and relevant regulatory bodies have partnered to enable advanced air mobility (AAM). It will see Dubai become the first location with a commercial, city-wide electric air taxi service.
The parties will take on the following responsibilities:
Skyports will design, construct, own and operate vertiports to provide critical take-off and landing infrastructure at key locations across the Emirate
RTA, as Dubai’s transport authority, will oversee and regulate AAM services
Joby will manufacture, certify, and operate eVTOL air taxis in the Emirate
The initial network will include four vertiports located by Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown and Dubai Marina. Flights between Skyports’ vertiports will reduce journey times significantly, with a typical journey from DXB to Palm Jumeirah expected to take ten minutes by air taxi compared with 45 minutes by car.
The project will integrate with RTA’s extensive public transport network to facilitate intermodal travel, enhance connectivity across Dubai and enable a seamless passenger journey.
Duncan Walker, founder and CEO of Skyports, said: “Today marks a significant step towards the launch of commercial air taxi services in Dubai. The industry has never been closer to making it a reality.”
“This agreement brings together the key enablers of advanced air mobility: strong, innovative local leadership; a world-leading aircraft partner; and critical ground infrastructure integrated with the Emirate’s existing transportation networks.”
