Dubai Completes First Aerial Taxi Test Flight Ahead Of 2026 Launch (image-X/DXBMediaOffice)

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has announced the successful launch of the region’s first test flight of an aerial taxi in partnership with Joby Aviation. This has been regarded as the first step towards commercial urban air mobility services in the emirate. The commercial operation of the flight is planned for 2026.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, had praised the milestone trial as a “major step forward” in the emirate’s long-term vision to revolutionise public transport. “The test flight marks a major step towards launching full operations next year,” Sheikh Hamdan wrote on social media platform X.

Dubai has successfully completed the region’s first test flight of the Joby Aerial Taxi. Conducted through a collaboration between the Roads and Transport Authority and Joby Aviation, the test flight marks a major step toward launching full operations next year. The all-electric… pic.twitter.com/HPknqvNBwD

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) June 30, 2025

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The all-electric, vertical take-off and landing aircraft was developed by California-based Joby Aviation. It promises to slash travel time, reduce emissions, and contribute to a more efficient and sustainable urban transit ecosystem.

The new aerial mobility initiative was taken by the Dubai government as part of its larger strategy to revolutionise transportation, reduce traffic congestion, and position the city at the forefront of next-generation infrastructure and smart city planning.

Apart from this, the UAE has also been pressing ahead with ambitious transport plans, including drones, driverless taxis, and air taxis. Last month, as part of the advancement, the UAE had conducted test flights for self-flying air taxis. The flights were organised by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council and ADIO, in collaboration with Chinese drone manufacturer EHang and FinTech group Multi Level Group.

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Considering the Gulf as the perfect launch pad to demonstrate the vehicles, the US air taxi company Archer Aviation is working towards launching a fleet of flying taxis before the end of the year. Abu Dhabi Aviation also had revealed at the time that an agreement will be made to introduce the first fleet of Archer’s Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft this year.