Joby Aviation has begun constructing Dubai’s first vertiport at Dubai International Airport (DXB), marking a critical step toward bringing electric air taxis to the Emirate.
Developed in partnership with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Skyports, the facility is part of a high-profile project aimed at launching commercial air taxis in Dubai by 2026.
The current Phase 1 plan will see four vertiports connecting four key areas of Dubai in the next two years: Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, and Downtown Dubai. Initially, two sites—DXB and Palm Jumeirah—will be operational, with additional locations expected in the following months.
Ambitious timeline and regulatory hurdles
Damian Kysely, Head of Infrastructure for Europe and the Middle East at Skyports, acknowledged the tight timeline for the project. “It’s a very ambitious timeline. Dubai wants to be first in the world with this new mode of transportation and we don’t have much time to get it done, so there’s a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes.”
In addition to time constraints, navigating new and evolving regulations is a significant factor for Skyports and Joby as they work to develop Dubai’s air mobility infrastructure. “Other challenges are regulations; they need developing and changing for us to get the infrastructure permitted. Everything from fire to aircraft certification,” Kysely added.
The DXB vertiport, a 3,100-square-metre, three-story facility, is designed to integrate with Dubai’s existing transportation infrastructure, providing seamless links to Dubai Metro’s Emirates Station 2 and other ground transit options. Equipped with Joby’s Global Electric Aviation Charging System (GEACS), the facility will allow for rapid aircraft recharging between flights, a key requirement for a frequent-use network.
Phase 1 of the project aligns with the exclusive six-year agreement Joby signed with the RTA in February 2024, positioning Joby as Dubai’s sole air taxi operator through 2030. Under this agreement, Joby will operate electric air taxis capable of carrying four passengers and a pilot, offering trips that are expected to drastically reduce travel times across Dubai. For instance, a journey from DXB to Palm Jumeirah is projected to take just 12 minutes, compared to 45 minutes by car.
While the initial focus is on these four core vertiports, further network expansion is being considered. According to Kysely, Skyports is already evaluating existing infrastructure, such as heliports, for future development. However, no specific timeline has been confirmed for these additional sites.
