Joby to launch eVTOL aircraft service in the UAE

Joby Aviation (Santa Cruz, Calif., U.S.) has signed a definitive agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch air taxi services in the Emirate by early 2026, with Joby targeting initial operations as early as 2025.

The agreement, signed at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, provides Joby with the exclusive right to operate air taxis in Dubai for 6 years. The agreement secures a variety of support from the RTA, including financial mechanisms, for entry and maturing of service operations in Dubai.

“This landmark agreement delivers on all three ingredients required to successfully launch an air taxi service — a definitive path to operations, well-placed infrastructure supported by dedicated partners and an aircraft with the capacity and range to deliver meaningful journeys,” JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO, Joby Aviation, notes. 

According to His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, director-general, chairman of the board of executive directors for RTA, “the air taxi service is part of RTA’s efforts to embrace future transportation technologies and offers a novel and efficient mobility option for Dubai’s residents and visitors, enabling fast, safe and convenient travel to key city spots. This service will also enhance seamless multimodal transportation, improving citywide connectivity and ensuring a smooth travel experience for passengers.”

Joby additionally signed an agreement with Skyports (London, U.K.), which will design, build and operate four initial vertiport sites across Dubai. RTA, Skyports and Joby have worked together to identify Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and Dubai Downtown as the launch locations for Dubai’s air taxi service.

Joby and the RTA have been working closely with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE to ensure there is a regulatory route to support this vision. The GCAA regulatory framework builds upon Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards with additional company testing and analysis alongside a high level of regulator oversight and an ongoing operational review process to ensure continued safety for early operations.

RTA, Joby and Skyports will now work on a wide range of topics, from customer journey design to stakeholder engagement and the integration of Joby’s service into the wider public transport network in Dubai. To support the development of its operations in Dubai, Joby has established a local operating entity and intends to recruit locally for the majority of its operational team. The company will also consider localization of other global business activities in Dubai and across the region. Joby recently announced it will participate in the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster established by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), as part of exploring broader operations across the UAE.