Aircraft
Saudi Arabian Partners Sign Up For Joby eVTOL Flight Trials
The Helicopter Company and Red Sea Global are also partnered with rival Archer
Joby eVTOL aircraft
Joby flew its four-passenger eVTOL aircraft at the Dubai Airshow this week. © AIN/David McIntosh

Saudi Arabian companies The Helicopter Company (THC) and Red Sea Global have agreed to conduct “pre-commercial” evaluation flights with Joby’s four-passenger eVTOL aircraft. Announcing the partnership on November 19 at the Dubai Airshow, Joby said flights could start in the country during the first half of 2026.

The agreement is similar to one announced this week by Joby’s rival Archer, with the Saudi companies apparently weighing their options for an air taxi partner. THC has operated commercial rotorcraft flights in Saudi Arabia since 2019 and Red Sea Global is a real estate developer currently working on new tourist properties called The Red Sea and AMAALA.