A new era of transport is landing in Dubai soon. And I mean that quite literally. Could you ever imagine being so sick of all the traffic on the ground that you simply take off into the air and zip through the skies of Dubai, getting to your destination faster and smoother than ever before? Well, it’s about to happen in reality! Flying taxis will officially take off in Dubai in the first quarter of 2026. This exciting announcement from the RTA means that, in less than 20 months, you’ll be able to hop onto one of these fully electric air taxis, transforming the way you move around the city. Come with me, and I’ll give you all the thrilling details you need to know.
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Where Will the First Vertiports Be?
Dubai’s first 4 vertiports have already been revealed. These flying taxis will serve key areas of the city, initially operating from
- Dubai International Airport (DXB)
- Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Marina
- Downtown Dubai
While the exact locations of these vertiports haven’t been confirmed yet, they are expected to link up with some of Dubai’s busiest hotspots. The whole system is powered by Joby Aviation, a leading name in electric aircraft, and is designed to connect people to major locations, including the airport, with ease.
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A Faster, Smoother Ride
Each flying taxi will be able to carry a pilot and up to 4 passengers, speeding through the sky at an impressive 320 km/h. To put that into perspective, a trip from the Dubai International Airport to Expo City, which usually takes around 45 minutes by car, could take just 10 to 12 minutes by air! According to Tyler Trerotola, Joby Aviation’s Middle East General Manager, this mode of transport is going to revolutionise travel across Dubai.
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How To Book Your Air Taxi Ride
Booking a flying taxi will be as simple as ordering a regular taxi. Joby Aviation has partnered with Uber, meaning that when the service launches, you’ll be able to book your air taxi via the Uber app, the official RTA app, or even Joby’s own app, which will be available soon. After booking, you’ll arrive at a vertiport, go through a quick terminal process, and board your air taxi within 5 minutes. When you land, you can seamlessly continue your journey by connecting to an Uber.
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What About The Cost?
Worried about the price? It might not be as high as you think! Joby aims to price air taxi rides similarly to an Uber Black trip. While prices could be a bit higher at launch, the goal is to eventually make flying taxis competitive with regular taxis on the ground. So, flying across the city could soon be as affordable as your Hala taxi.
The countdown to 2026 has officially begun, and soon, you’ll be able to take to the skies and experience a whole new way of getting around Dubai! Visit Joby Aviation’s website to get more information.
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