Aircraft
Gulf States Seek Early Launch of eVTOL Air Services
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia have all made commitments to manufacturers of new electric aircraft
Joby eVTOL aircraft in Dubai
Joby Aviation has exclusive rights to operate eVTOL air taxi services for a six-year period.

Dubai is jockeying for a position to be among the first, if not an actual world-first, to offer eVTOL air taxi services. In February, the government granted Joby Aviation exclusive rights to the local market for a period of six years, and in recent months the manufacturer has indicated that it expects to start operations in the UAE before services start in major U.S. cities such as New York City and Los Angeles.

Three months ago, Joby applied to the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for an air operator certificate, having already secured one in the U.S. Last month, Joby and partners Skyports and the Dubai Road and Transport Authority started construction of a vertiport at Dubai International Airport.