Dubai International Airport’s first vertiport to be ready in early 2026 ahead of flying taxi launch

Dubai to have four vertiports

A vertiport is a designated area, like an airport, for the takeoff and landing of eVTOLs. Joby Aviation has been working with the Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA) and Skyports for the construction of the first vertiport for the Dubai air taxi network since November 2024.

Apart from Dubai International Airport, there will be three more vertiports in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown, and Dubai Marina in the initial phase as part of Dubai’s air taxi service scheduled to launch in 2026.

Air taxi trials since June

Joby Aviation had been conducting extensive trials starting in June and into July in Dubai to assess the operational readiness ahead of the commercial launch.

“Joby completed 21 full-transition flights in a multi-week campaign in Dubai this summer to validate commercial readiness. The campaign validated several aspects of commercial market readiness in real-world conditions, spanning maintenance, logistics, aircraft capabilities and infrastructure,” the company said.

Dubai has successfully completed the region’s first test flight of the Joby Aerial Taxi. Conducted through a collaboration between the Roads and Transport Authority and Joby Aviation, the test flight marks a major step toward launching full operations next year. The all-electric… pic.twitter.com/HPknqvNBwD

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) June 30, 2025

“Over the course of several weeks in June and July, we conducted a series of piloted, vertical-takeoff-and-landing wingborne flights. In addition to validating our aircraft’s capabilities, this campaign solidified the operational rigour and regulatory coordination required to successfully deploy air taxi service in the region. From access to airspace for flight tests to aligning on daily operations standards, this direct, in-market regulatory engagement provided real-time feedback for operational approvals. This was a critical step on our path to carrying our first passengers in Dubai in 2026,” Joby Aviation’s quarterly report stated.

Abu Dhabi’s air taxi service also on track