Vertiports in the Middle East

There are bold ambitions for advanced air mobility (AAM) with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxis transporting passengers on short hops across cities or between airports and downtown.

Industry stakeholders expect it will be only later this decade when AAM becomes a reality in North America and Europe, thanks to the pace of developing infrastructure and procedures for their operation.

In the meantime, the Middle East is seeking to take a lead on commercial eVTOL operations. There are hopes air taxis will be flying passenger services in the region within a couple of years. Collaborations between platform developers, infrastructure specialists and public agencies make the Persian Gulf a hotbed of development.

Dubai’s ambitions

In February 2024, Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA), Skyports Infrastructure and eVTOL platform developer Joby Aviation signed an agreement to launch passenger air taxi services in the emirate by 2026.

In its announcement, Skyports Infrastructure stressed that it holds exclusive rights to build and operate vertiports in Dubai. The company said: “The agreement is the first time globally that a transport authority, vertiport operator, aircraft manufacturer and relevant regulatory bodies have partnered to enable AAM. It will see Dubai become the first location with a commercial, city-wide electric air taxi service.”

Dubai’s initial AAM network will consist of four vertiports – at Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown and Dubai Marina. Air taxi flights between these locations “will reduce journey times significantly” in the emirate, the parties said, “with a typical journey from DXB to Palm Jumeirah expected to take ten minutes by air taxi compared with 45 minutes by car”.

Skyports will design, construct, own and operate the vertiports, RTA will provide regulatory oversight and Joby Aviation will operate the eVTOLs. A Joby spokesperson pointed out to Vertiports that the agreement provides “exclusive access to the Dubai air taxi market” for Joby for six years.

‘Never been closer’

Skyports Infrastructure said the project will integrate with RTA’s extensive public transport network to facilitate intermodal travel and enhance connectivity across Dubai

Skyports founder and CEO Duncan Walker thinks the aerospace industry has “never been closer” to making air taxi services 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. With the definitive agreement signed, now begins the exciting part: designing and building our vertiports,” he said.

Asked by Vertiports for an update, a Skyports spokesperson said: “We are in the detailed planning stages for our vertiport at Dubai International Airport and will be breaking ground and revealing designs later in the year. Similarly, we are moving forward at pace with our designs and planning for the other three sites. Progress is rapid and we are eager to share updates as soon as possible.”

In conjunction with building the infrastructure, work is under way on certifying and approving the Dubai vertiports with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS) and other government stakeholders.

Mattar Al Tayer, director general, chairman of the Board of Executive Directors for RTA, said: “Skyports’ vertiports will stand out for their innovative design, which facilitates seamless multimodal transportation and improves citywide connectivity, ensuring a smooth travel experience for passengers.”

Between the emirates

Dubai is not the only location in the United Arab Emirates with advanced air mobility ambitions.

Abu Dhabi authorities and Joby Aviation have agreed to create “a full air taxi ecosystem” encompassing infrastructure, flight operations (including inter-emirate air taxi services between Abu Dhabi and Dubai), training and eVTOL manufacturing.

Joby said the planned 200mph speed and 100-mile range of its eVTOL “would enable fast and clean air travel” within Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE. A journey from Abu Dhabi to Dubai will take around 30 minutes by eVTOL compared with around two hours by car during rush hour, the California-headquartered company said.

The agreement was announced during the April 2024 DRIFTx exhibition at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, where the emirate’s authorities also signed a framework agreement with another air taxi developer, Archer Aviation, for in-country eVTOL manufacturing, operations and training.

In November 2023, Swedish vertiport developer Kookiejar signed a letter of intent with Eve Air Mobility – an eVTOL developer set up by Embraer – to work on Urban Air Traffic Management (ATM) in Dubai.

Eve said the two parties plan “a phased implementation programme in which networks of vertiports will be connected via Eve’s Urban ATM system” to “provide a path to commercialisation in 2025-2026”.

Kookiejar showcased a vertiport with eight parking pads and a final approach/take-off area in Air Chateau’s facility at Al Maktoum Airport. Kookiejar is additionally co-developing a “cost-efficient and modular vertiport design” using ADB SAFEGATE airside operations solutions, from LED lights with advanced sensors to communication platforms and software systems managing flight turnaround processes.

Around the region

In May 2024, Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority (RAKTA) and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority signed a memorandum of understanding with Skyports Infrastructure to develop a vertiports network and eVTOL ecosystem in the Ras Al Khaimah Emirate by 2027.

Skyports said the project will “seamlessly integrate its vertiport infrastructure with RAKTA’s existing transport network, providing fast and convenient zero-emission transport” to Ras Al Khaimah’s most popular areas and tourist attractions, including Al Marjan Island, Al Hamra and Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest peak.

As in Dubai, the promise is that air taxi services will offer substantial time savings for residents and tourists. Travelling from Al Marjan Island to Jebel Jais takes approximately 70 minutes by car, a Skyports statement noted. “The launch of air taxi services will cut the journey time to less than 20 minutes,” the company said. The vertiport network will also support the Ras Al Khaimah Emirate’s objective of responsibly attracting 3.5 million visitors annually by 2030, it added.

Air taxi ambitions in the Middle East go beyond the UAE. In May 2024, Joby Aviation signed a memorandum of understanding with Mukamalah, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, which operates the world’s largest fleet of corporate aircraft, to introduce Joby’s electric aircraft to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Joby Aviation founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt said: “Saudi Arabia presents a remarkable opportunity for our technology and the scope and scale of Mukamalah’s operations makes ita natural partner for us.”

November 2023 saw Eve Air Mobility announce an agreement with the Saudi low-cost airline Flynas to explore eVTOL operations in the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah from 2026. Eve is also working with Saudia Technic on the requirements for maintenance, repair and overhaul activities for eVTOL aircraft in the Middle East, as well as training and evaluating infrastructure requirements and processes for the potential assembly of Eve eVTOLs in Saudi Arabia.  

Regulations rule

Collectively, the different vertiport/eVTOL agreements across the Middle East lay out a clear direction of travel for advanced air mobility in the region.

However, as with all other aspects of commercial aviation, vertiports/eVTOL operations in the Middle East will have to align with global specifications, standards and procedures.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued the first vertiport design specifications/guidance in April 2022, and the FAA published its own standards six months later. Definitive, internationally-accepted regulations for vertiport design and operations are yet to be finalised, though.

Of the vehicles themselves, the US Federal Aviation Administration decided in 2022 that eVTOLs’ unique flight characteristics mean these new aircraft would not fall within its existing certification categories, and would have to be certified under a different category, Federal Aviation Regulations Part 21.17(b). On June 10, 2024 the FAA issued updated guidance it says “will form the foundation for establishing certification criteria”.

In short, vertiport/eVTOL regulations are still a work in progress. This bigger picture will influence the pace of air taxi operations becoming a reality in the Middle East – but, conceivably, early eVTOL/vertiport operations and experiences in the region could directly inform the evolution of the regulations on procedures governing the segment globally. Specific regional ambitions, such as the plan to create inter-emirate air taxi travel in the UAE, will require additional approval from local authorities.

The right ingredients

While the rules for vertiports and eVTOLs shake down, there is no question over the enthusiasm for advanced air mobility in the Middle East.

Skyports Infrastructure told Vertiports: “There are several reasons the Middle East is leading the way. Firstly, the governments and regulators want to be the first so are taking strides to make that happen, whilst ensuring that safety remains the absolute priority.

“The readiness to innovate and the competition between the region’s countries and cities make the regulatory environment responsive and willing. When trying to implement a new technology, especially a public service, co-ordinating stakeholders is a major barrier to adoption. Eager and innovative leadership is addressing this co-ordination challenge.”

Skyports’ spokesperson continued: “There is an existing pool of people in these locations who want to be in that first wave of passengers to ride in an air taxi. Dubai, and the Middle East more broadly, has built a reputation for embracing new technologies and transformations; air taxis offer the next new thing. The value proposition of a significant improvement in transport time and connectivity is something that people understand andare willing to pay for.”

In broad terms, Skyports emphasised: “The Middle East has all of the right ingredients for innovation and adoption of new technologies – a supportive government with strong policies and vision, financial resources, clear use cases and guaranteed early customers. It is an enticing environment for industry, as is apparent through the commitments that AAM ecosystem players have made across the region.”

A wealth of opportunities

The region could be a showcase for vertiports and advanced air mobility. Joby’s spokesperson told Vertiports: “The Middle East has the potential to be a global leader in the adoption of this technology, and to deliver a meaningful, scalable air taxi network. We believe the region offers a wealth of opportunities for this new technology.

“The governments of the UAE and Saudi Arabia are committed to being leaders in bringing sustainable new aviation technologies to market. We’re excited about the potential. With more than 17 million tourists in 2023 in Dubai alone, and significant ground-based congestion, we believe there are many meaningful applications for our air taxi service in the region.”

Luiz Mauad, Eve’s VP of services, operations solutions, strategic design and ecosystem, told Vertiports: “Countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have a mature aviation market and rapidly growing urban centres, which make AAM a compelling solution to enhance local mobility. These countries are keen on promoting innovation and intermodal connections, which aligns perfectly with the concept of this market with vertiports.”

Mauad noted: “As the entire market depends on establishing regulations, we don’t know precisely where AAM operations will start first. However, their commitment to eVTOL purchases and the development of the ecosystem needed for operations, coupled with their ability to execute it quickly, position them among the early adopters.”

He expects a market for 3,000 eVTOLs in the region by 2035: “Several cities have potential for AAM operations, each of them presenting unique use cases and opportunities.”

Innovative mindset

Making advanced air mobility a reality is a complex task. For vertiports, technical specifications relating to site requirements, construction, power/charging provision, operational procedures, accessibility and maintenance need to be defined. Then there are the standards and regulations on performance, flight characteristics, stability, energy storage and safety of the air taxis themselves.

Collaboration between the market’s various stakeholders is required. Mauad said Eve “will work closely with local authorities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to prepare the ecosystem for eVTOL operations”, working alongside civil aviation authorities, air navigation service providers, municipalities, potential future operators and infrastructure specialists.

Companies that spoke to Vertiports emphasised the forward-looking attitude demonstrated right across the region. “The Middle East is known for its innovative mindset, which aligns well with AAM’s forward-thinking nature,” Mauad said.

Joby’s spokesperson said the company’s agreement with Dubai’s RTA “brings together what we believe are the three key elements for the successful launch of an air taxi service: a defined path to certification, dedicated infrastructure and the right aircraft for the mission”.

Joby added: “We’re motivated by partnering with those who share in our vision. Saudi Arabia is a great example, with its ambitious Vision 2030 roadmap and its overall goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2060.”

Setting the standard

Skyports’ spokesperson told Vertiports: “What sets the Middle East apart is an inclination not just to envision new ways of doing things, but a drive to action them. In other markets we work in we often encounter a disconnect between the governing bodies, industry and other key stakeholders, which slows progress. In the Middle East and Dubai specifically, where we’ve already achieved significant milestones on our journey towards AAM commercialisation, the disconnect does not exist.”

Skyports said: “Instead, we see all of these parties working together to realise the vision – transport authorities, safety and security stakeholders, airspace experts, all aligned. This highly supportive ecosystem, coupled with a thirst for innovation, is instrumental.”

In a May 2024 blog, the civil aerospace aftermarket specialist Satair highlighted a wider background factor that could explain why this is the case. Middle East countries, Satair said, “are already busy building the cities of the future, which means vertiport and VTOL infrastructure can be incorporated early into the urban planning of these large-scale metropolises”.

Skyports believes the Middle East “will set the global standard and be an example to other countries and regions for how to integrate these services into the transport network”. The vertiports pioneer added: “The precedent for regulatory framework, operational procedures and commercial model will be applied in the next wave of markets to adopt it.”

What’s happening with vertiports in the region is “hugely valuable for pushing other markets forward and maintaining momentum globally”, Skyports said.