Abu Dhabi Welcomes New Flying Taxis in 2026

Urban transport is changing very quickly, and Abu Dhabi is going to change the way we get around cities. The smart and autonomous vehicle industry (SAVI) cluster in the Emirates is getting ready to introduce flying taxis in 2026, which will be a huge step forward in technology. This bold step into the future will not only change the way people commute every day but will also show that Abu Dhabi is committed to being a leader in sustainable and efficient urban transportation solutions.

Today is the start of a new era in transport. This article talks about the exciting changes that will soon make Abu Dhabi’s skies home to flying taxis. We talk about what this brave plan means, how it might affect the city’s infrastructure, and what it means for urban transport around the world. Put on your seat belts, because we’re going on a trip into the future sky.

In 2026, flying taxis will become a reality in Abu Dhabi as the city-state strives to establish itself as a global leader in smart and autonomous car technology.

Leading provider of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Archer Aviation, has announced that it has signed a deal with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) to start operating air taxi services in the United Arab Emirates in 2026.

In place of 60 to 90-minute auto trips, Archer intends to replace them with 10 to 20-minute electric air taxi rides.

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The four-passenger piloted aircraft Archer’s Midnight is built to do quick back-to-back flights with little time spent charging in between.

To help Archer establish its first global headquarters and production facilities in the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) Cluster in Abu Dhabi, ADIO intends to provide incentives as part of this strategic initiative.

To expand its aircraft manufacturing capabilities and establish an Abu Dhabi Centre of Excellence, Archer is looking to collaborate with local partners as well as its global manufacturing partner, Stellantis.

Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi said that the GCAA recently went to Archer Aviation’s global headquarters in California to look at its Midnight planes and find out how their certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration was going. We are going to let Archer’s Air Taxi work in the United Arab Emirates once it gets FAA approval. We can’t wait to work with them to bring electric air taxis to the whole country.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office’s acting director general, Badr Al-Olama, stated: We are delighted to work with Archer to host their first international operations in Abu Dhabi.

Bringing electric aircraft to the UAE over the next ten years will help ease traffic and produce no pollution. This will bring millions of dollars in foreign direct investment and thousands of jobs to the area.

Archer has raised more than $1.1 billion so far, with help from Boeing, United Airlines, Mubadala Capital, and Stellantis.

Adam Goldstein, founder, and CEO of Archer Aviation, said, We are excited to announce this partnership. The United Arab Emirates will be our first international market outside of the United States.

The Department of Economic Development and ADIO will work closely with Archer to establish production and operations for our air taxis in the area. In the upcoming years, we are well-positioned to be a driving force behind the implementation of all-electric air taxis throughout the UAE and other regions.

To support its ambitions to commercialize operations in the UAE by 2026, Archer is collaborating with a wide range of industry partners throughout the country.

MOUs were inked by Archer and Falcon Aviation, the latter of which will run the air taxis in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

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Additionally, the largest commercial helicopter operator in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA), has announced that it is agreeing with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.

The partnership was formed in response to the opening of Masdar City’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster in Abu Dhabi.

By building a cutting-edge eVTOL MRO facility, ADA will promote smart and autonomous vehicle solutions and applications while enhancing Abu Dhabi’s wide range of MRO businesses.

In keeping with the SAVI cluster’s goals of utilizing shared technologies and synergies, ADIO and ADA will also work with major international partners, regional airlines in the United Arab Emirates, and global electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) OEMs.

By collaborating with technology companies operating in SAVI and commercializing innovations and intellectual property produced through collaborative research and development, ADA will also play a significant role in helping SAVI bring together all pertinent stakeholders to advance value chain development.

Through its pilot training facility, ADA will also enhance national capabilities and knowledge transfer while advancing eVTOL services.

Modern facilities and value-added services are offered by Abu Dhabi’s SAVI cluster in a supportive regulatory setting.

To establish an effective, transparent, and proactive regulatory framework that will support global aviation mobility in the future, ADA will be collaborating closely with local regulators.

Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) serves the oil and gas production companies of Abu Dhabi in particular by offering offshore aviation oil support and other services globally.

In addition, the company offers crop spraying, aerial construction, seismic support, firefighting in Europe, VVIP passenger transportation, Search and Rescue for the United Arab Emirates, and third-party maintenance support.