Dubai is set to launch commercial air taxi services by the end of the year, according to the emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
RTA Director General and Chairman Mattar Al Tayer said on Friday that the electric air taxis developed by U.S.-based Joby Aviation are expected to begin carrying passengers before the end of 2026.
The RTA said the air taxis will offer a faster alternative to road travel, particularly during peak hours. Journeys that can take up to 45 minutes by car are expected to be reduced to around 10 minutes by air.
The aircraft are fully electric, produce zero operational emissions, and are designed to operate quietly in densely populated areas.
Each vehicle can carry a pilot and up to four passengers, with ranges of up to 160 kilometres (100 miles) at speeds reaching 320km/h (200mph) on a single charge.
Several purpose-built “vertiports” are under development to support the service. The first is located near Dubai International Airport, with additional sites planned in areas including Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah.
Officials say the air taxis will be integrated into Dubai’s wider public transport network, with passengers able to book flights through digital platforms. Pricing details have not yet been announced, but authorities say the service will be positioned as a premium transport option.
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Iran attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded crude oil tanker off Dubai on Monday, as President Donald Trump warned the U.S. would obliterate Iran's energy plants and oil wells if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz.
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China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at coordinating defensive efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving no agreed international framework for securing the vital route.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces on Wednesday as part of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East brokered between the United States and Iran. However, a Hezbollah lawmaker warned that the pause could collapse if Tel Aviv does not adhere to it.
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