Credit: Christina Esteban Photography
California-based eVTOL manufacturer Joby Aviation has applied to become a certified electric air taxi operator in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt presented Joby’s Letter of Intent to initiate its Air Operator Certificate application at the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Advanced Air Mobility Summit which took place this week in Montreal.
Joby plans to launch air taxi services in Dubai by early 2026 after signing an agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) earlier this year.
“We’re excited to have signed a definitive, six-year exclusive agreement with the Dubai Road and Transport Authority and a multilateral MoU in Abu Dhabi,” a Joby spokesperson told Zag Daily. “There’s incredible momentum behind the adoption of clean flight across the UAE, and we are looking forward to delivering fast, efficient, sustainable travel for our future customers.
“We continue to lead the industry towards bringing an electric air taxi service to market, as the first company to achieve numerous milestones across flight testing, certification progress, and readiness for air taxi operations.”
Issued by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the Air Operator Certificate is mandatory to operate commercial air taxis in the UAE. Following a five-stage application process, Joby will develop air taxi operating manuals, undergo inspections of its UAE-based facilities, and complete GCAA observation of pilot and aircraft mechanic training, and flight operations.
Joby’s electric air taxi can carry four passengers and a pilot at speeds of 200mph, and the company claims it can complete a 45-minute car journey from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah in 10 minutes.
His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE GCAA, said: “The Letter of Intent for the operator certificate application from Joby Aviation marks a significant milestone in the UAE’s journey towards becoming a global leader in EVTOL operations.
“Our readiness to support these advanced technologies underscores our commitment to fostering advanced air mobility solutions that will be part of the future of transportation in the UAE and beyond. We are excited to work closely with Joby Aviation to ensure the highest standards of safety and efficiency as we advance towards the realisation of commercial eVTOL operations in our skies.”
Joby’s application to operate in the UAE comes shortly after it applied for certified use in Australia last month.
