Dubai’s 2026 Air Taxi Launch Aims to Ease Traffic Woes

DUBAI: Commuters in Dubai may soon have the option to bypass traffic with air taxis.

This week, Joby Aviation completed its first test flight of a fully-electric air taxi in the emirate, marking a significant step in the city’s plans to incorporate aerial transport into its mobility framework, potentially as early as next year.

Joby envisions its air taxis alleviating congestion on the roads and providing travelers with a quicker mode of transport as traffic problems escalate in Dubai.

“Our goal is to revolutionize commuting,” stated Anthony Khoury, Joby’s UAE General Manager.

A trip from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Palm Jumeirah via the Joby Aerial Taxi is anticipated to take around twelve minutes, compared to a 45-minute car ride.

While Joby aims to eventually make its aerial taxis accessible to everyone, Khoury notes that initial pricing might cater to wealthier customers. “As with the introduction of any new technology, the early days could be on the pricier side,” he added.

The demonstration flight took place on Monday at a remote desert location southeast of downtown Dubai and simulated a typical aerial taxi route, according to officials from Joby Aviation.

During a ceremony attended by high-ranking government officials, transportation executives, and company representatives, the experimental aircraft successfully performed a vertical takeoff, flew several miles, and landed vertically.

The Joby Aerial Taxi, a flagship electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developed by the California-based firm, can travel distances of up to 160 kilometers (100 miles) at speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph).

Completely electric and emitting zero operational pollutants, Joby’s air taxi aims to be environmentally friendly and silent enough for operation in densely populated urban areas.

“It will operate in urban settings, near residential areas, and ideally, people won’t even notice it,” Khoury said.

While eVTOLs like Joby’s are considered the future of urban air mobility, significant challenges remain, including obtaining regulatory approval and creating sufficient vertiport infrastructure.

In April, Morgan Stanley lowered Joby’s stock price target from $10 to $7, citing immediate execution risks and wider concerns in the aerospace sector, such as tariffs and supply chain challenges. Joby’s shares are currently trading at $10.55.

In early 2024, Joby entered into a contract with Dubai’s Roads and Transit Authority, granting the company exclusive rights to operate aerial taxis in the city for the next six years.

The launch of the commercial air taxi service in the emirate is planned for 2026, with four initial vertiports set to be established at Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown, and Dubai Marina.

“Transformations like this are rare in aviation,” remarked Didier Papadopoulos, Joby’s President of Original Equipment Manufacturing.

“Every so often, we witness a significant leap forward into the future. What you’re seeing here is truly exciting, and I’m looking forward to the day you get to ride in one.”