Flying Taxis in Dubai
Dubai is set to become the first city in the world to roll out a commercial, city-wide electric aerial taxi service and vertiport network. A collaboration between the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), JOBY Aviation and Skyports Infrastructure, the air taxi is poised to transform public transport as we know it.
The RTA has confirmed it expects to begin air taxi operations by the end of 2026.
An electric air taxi soaring over Dubai Marina at sunset
Where will the flying taxis fly?
The first four vertiports (vertical take-off and landing pads) will be placed at:
- Dubai International Airport (DXB)
- Dubai Downtown (at Dubai Mall)
- Dubai Marina (at American University in Dubai)
- Palm Jumeirah (at Atlantis The Royal)
These locations were chosen to connect the airport to key hotels and landmarks across the city. Plans have also been outlined for air taxis to eventually travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The inaugural commercial aerial taxi flight is scheduled to take off from the Dubai International Airport vertiport.
A futuristic vertiport landing pad on a Dubai rooftop
How much will it cost?
The aim is for tickets to cost no more than a ride in an Uber Black, but flights will take roughly a third of the time a car would to cross the city.
Since Uber is a global partner of JOBY Aviation, you can expect to book a ride using the Uber app.
How long will a flight take?
A journey between DXB and Palm Jumeirah will take around 10 minutes, as opposed to the 45 minutes it currently takes by car.
The aircraft can carry a pilot plus four passengers and fly at speeds of up to 320 km/h.
Getting in and out of the air taxi at the vertiport will take only minutes, without the stringent security checks of a traditional airport.
Are they safe?
Safety is a top priority. Tests have been carried out for two years in hot-weather conditions, with JOBY completing more than 40,000 miles of test flights prior to testing in Dubai.
Each aircraft has six rotors (compared to one on a helicopter), providing additional redundancy and safety. JOBY has begun the five-stage certification process to become a licensed taxi operator in the UAE.
What else should you know?
- Electric vehicles: Zero emissions during flight, significantly quieter than helicopters
- Flight altitude: Between 1,000 and 3,000 feet
- Mobile signal: You will still have phone connectivity during the flight
- Fleet plans: Starting with a small number of vehicles, JOBY plans to eventually operate around 100 air taxis over Dubai
- Parking: Dubai's public parking group Parkin will develop parking facilities at vertiports for a park-and-ride experience
Aerial view of Palm Jumeirah, one of the first vertiport locations
What this means for investors
The introduction of flying taxis will reshape connectivity between Dubai's most in-demand areas, potentially boosting property values near vertiport locations. Areas like Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, and Dubai Marina stand to benefit from dramatically improved accessibility.
For real estate investors, proximity to vertiport infrastructure could become a new premium factor in property valuations, much like metro station access reshaped the market a decade ago.
Source: Time Out Dubai, RTA, JOBY Aviation
Interested in investing near these locations?
Properties near vertiport locations and major infrastructure projects often see significant value appreciation. Speak with our team to explore opportunities.
