Skyports Infrastructure has had its vertiport design approved for development by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai.
The vision for Dubai’s future air mobility infrastructure network was jointly presented by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Skyports Infrastructure and Joby Aviation at a closed presentation ahead of the recent World Government Summit, an annual three-day event which brings together international government officials and business leaders.
The air mobility exposition demonstrates the RTA and Skyports Infrastructure’s planned roadmap for developing a vertiport network in Dubai for launch by 2026, including a concept for how future vertiport infrastructure may look and how it will integrate with existing transportation, including the RTA’s Dubai Metro network and Dubai International Airport.
Four vertiport sites located near Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown and Dubai Marina, which are currently being considered by Skyports Infrastructure and RTA, were presented to a senior delegation which included His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, accompanied by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. These initial locations will connect four of Dubai’s most popular – and populous – areas, providing high-speed, zero-emissions connectivity.
An architectural model of Skyports’ vertiport near Dubai International Airport was presented to the special delegation by RTA Chairman, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer. Pioneer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft Joby Aviation, which last week became the first eVTOL aircraft manufacturer to complete the second stage in the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) aircraft type certification process, joined RTA and Skyports Infrastructure at World Government Summit to promote the opportunities by aerial mobility in Dubai.
Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports, said: “We are honoured to have received such strong endorsement of our Dubai vertiport vision from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. The appetite for technology innovation and infrastructure expansion in Dubai makes it a hugely promising environment for the launch of advanced air mobility. We’re excited to continue working with the RTA to make our joint vision of an integrated vertiport network a reality in 2026.”
Image: Skyports
