Situated near Dubai International Airport (DXB), this landmark facility is the first of an initial four vertiports planned across Dubai, paving the way for the launch of air taxi services with aircraft partner Joby Aviation in Q1 2026.
The start of construction marks the culmination of years of effort between Skyports, the RTA and Joby Aviation, who celebrated the milestone at a ceremony attended by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, second deputy ruler of Dubai, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, director general of the RTA, Damian Kysely, head of infrastructure at Skyports, as well as representatives from the RTA and Joby leadership. In February this year, the companies formalised their partnership with the signing of binding agreements. The Dubai Air Taxi Project, which has been endorsed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, supports Dubai’s ambitions to redefine urban transport and set a global standard in quiet electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft services.
According to Skyports, the vertiport establishes a benchmark in design and operation for future AAM infrastructure, integrating with Dubai’s multimodal transport network, including Dubai Metro’s Emirates Station, Dubai International Airport, and parking facilities.
The building
The vertiport has been designed to complement the aesthetic of other public transport infrastructure, including the Dubai Metro. Skyports and its design partners have sought to carefully balance passenger experience and high throughput with iconic design and efficient use of space.
The three-storey vertiport building will cover an area of approximately 3,100m2. The facility will have two landing areas, designed to support both eVTOL and conventional helicopter operations. Each landing area will be equipped with fast charging technology to enable rapid battery recharges between flights, supporting up to ten aircraft landings per hour. The vertiport has also been designed with the flexibility to expand capacity to accommodate future demand growth. The vertiport can support up to 170,000 passengers per year.
Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports, said: “Today is an exciting day. The shared vision of Skyports, the RTA, Joby Aviation, and the many government authorities we work with in Dubai and the UAE is now being realised as we begin construction and see the first vertiport come to life. In the coming months, we will continue to advance our efforts in Dubai while our teams diligently work on essential technology, regulatory, and operational preparations to ensure a successful launch on day one."
In parallel, Skyports and the RTA are developing an additional three vertiport sites on Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown and Dubai Marina.
