RTA chief: Flying taxis will take off in Dubai this year

EVTOL vehicles (widely described as Air Taxis) developed by Joby Aviation are expected to begin commercial service in Dubai before the end of this year, according to H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai (RTA).

H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai (RTA) – Archive

In June 2025, Joby Aviation completed the first test flight of its fully electric air taxi in the emirate, marking a key step in Dubai’s plan to integrate these vehicles into its broader transportation ecosystem.

“The Joby Aerial Taxi” is the flagship plane of the California-based company. The EVTOL can travel up to 160 kilometers and reach speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour.

As an electric aircraft, the Joby air taxi produces no emissions, making it environmentally friendly and quiet enough to operate commercially in densely populated urban environments.

Earlier in 2024, Joby signed an agreement with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, granting the company exclusive rights to operate aerial taxi services in the city for a six-year period. Since then, several EVTOL prototypes, including one from the Chinese manufacturer Xpeng, have taken off on trial runs in Dubai, but none have entered active service yet.