Dubai completes region's first test flight of Joby Air Taxi
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai's Crown Prince, on Monday announced the successful first test flight of Joby air taxi in the region, marking "a major step towards launching full operations next year".
In a post on social media platform X, Sheikh Hamdan, who also holds the position of the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, said it is a "a new leap in eco-friendly urban mobility".
The test flight was conducted through a collaboration between Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Joby Aviation at a designated desert test site in Dubai. The test sites feature a dedicated vertiport, a hangar for flight monitoring and tracking, and the latest electric charging technologies.
"The all-electric aerial taxi represents a new leap in eco-friendly urban mobility - reducing travel times, enhancing quality of life and advancing sustainable development," Sheikh Hamdan added.
"This pioneering initiative is part of the UAE's broader vision to lead the world in innovation and the deployment of advanced technologies.
"Our nation's skies have opened to new possibilities, and the best is yet to come," he added.
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
It is part of a series of daily test operations aimed at evaluating the aircraft's performance within the local environment, in preparation for the commercial rollout of urban air mobility services.
The Joby Aerial Taxi is powered entirely by electricity, generating zero operating emissions.
Its design features six rotors and four battery packs, enabling it to achieve a flight range of up to 160 km and a maximum speed of 320 km/h.
The air taxi can accommodate four passengers in addition to the pilot and operates at significantly lower noise levels compared to conventional helicopters.
It is ideally suited for urban environments, requiring minimal horizontal space for take-off and landing at vertiports.
In a significant stride towards introducing Aerial Taxi services, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in cooperation with Joby Aviation, a leading developer of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, announced the region's first successful test flight of the… pic.twitter.com/7a3GX2XzuH
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 30, 2025
Dubai pioneers the future of mobility with region's first test flight of Joby Aerial Taxi. @rta_dubai I @jobyaviation pic.twitter.com/FnR43Y0uHF
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 30, 2025
In 2026, Aerial Taxi station operations will take-off near Dubai International Airport, during which the inaugural commercial Aerial Taxi flight is scheduled to take place.
'The aerial taxi will introduce a new premium service for residents and visitors seeking smooth, fast, and safe travel to key destinations across the city. A journey from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah, for example, is expected to take just 12 minutes, compared to approximately 45 minutes by car,' said Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA.
JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, highlighted that they are 'helping shape a future where clean and quiet aviation becomes the new norm'.
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Dubai Eye
13 hours ago
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Dubai completes region's first test flight of Joby Air Taxi
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai's Crown Prince, on Monday announced the successful first test flight of Joby air taxi in the region, marking "a major step towards launching full operations next year". In a post on social media platform X, Sheikh Hamdan, who also holds the position of the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, said it is a "a new leap in eco-friendly urban mobility". The test flight was conducted through a collaboration between Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Joby Aviation at a designated desert test site in Dubai. The test sites feature a dedicated vertiport, a hangar for flight monitoring and tracking, and the latest electric charging technologies. "The all-electric aerial taxi represents a new leap in eco-friendly urban mobility - reducing travel times, enhancing quality of life and advancing sustainable development," Sheikh Hamdan added. "This pioneering initiative is part of the UAE's broader vision to lead the world in innovation and the deployment of advanced technologies. "Our nation's skies have opened to new possibilities, and the best is yet to come," he added. 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… — Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) June 30, 2025 It is part of a series of daily test operations aimed at evaluating the aircraft's performance within the local environment, in preparation for the commercial rollout of urban air mobility services. The Joby Aerial Taxi is powered entirely by electricity, generating zero operating emissions. Its design features six rotors and four battery packs, enabling it to achieve a flight range of up to 160 km and a maximum speed of 320 km/h. The air taxi can accommodate four passengers in addition to the pilot and operates at significantly lower noise levels compared to conventional helicopters. It is ideally suited for urban environments, requiring minimal horizontal space for take-off and landing at vertiports. In a significant stride towards introducing Aerial Taxi services, Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in cooperation with Joby Aviation, a leading developer of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, announced the region's first successful test flight of the… — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 30, 2025 Dubai pioneers the future of mobility with region's first test flight of Joby Aerial Taxi. @rta_dubai I @jobyaviation — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) June 30, 2025 In 2026, Aerial Taxi station operations will take-off near Dubai International Airport, during which the inaugural commercial Aerial Taxi flight is scheduled to take place. 'The aerial taxi will introduce a new premium service for residents and visitors seeking smooth, fast, and safe travel to key destinations across the city. A journey from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah, for example, is expected to take just 12 minutes, compared to approximately 45 minutes by car,' said Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA. JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, highlighted that they are 'helping shape a future where clean and quiet aviation becomes the new norm'.
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When an air taxi took to the Dubai sky on Monday, it announced the city's target to be the first in the world to offer a commercial all-electric aerial option to tackle traffic congestion. A round of applause greeted the pilot of the Joby Aviation aerial taxi after making a gentle vertical landing in the Dubai desert, completing a test flight of the electric aircraft. The test flight of California-based aviation company's electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft lasted a few minutes, with the company saying it was on track to rolling out the service early next year. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, hailed it as a landmark and a 'major step forward' in the long-term vision to revolutionise public transport. 'It's really exciting for us to be here,' said Didier Papadopoulos, Joby's president of aircraft. 'We started this journey many years ago, working to make sure we have the right product to solve one of the hardest things − which is, how do we deal with congestion for larger cities like Dubai? 'This is the first time we have taken this aircraft outside of the US to a market of deployment and have flown it with a pilot on board. It's an amazing achievement and we chose Dubai to do that.' Building infrastructure The aircraft can reach a maximum speed of 320kph. The target is to be able to fly up to 160km carrying a pilot and four passengers. 'You want to take off like a helicopter so you can take off from small locations within the cities, but you want to become a plane as soon as possible, usually within 45 seconds from take-off,' Mr Papadopoulos said. The vertiport infrastructure to support the vertical take-off and landing will be at Dubai International Airport, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and The Palm Jumeirah. The assurance is that the aerial taxi will take less than 12 minutes from Dubai Airport to the Palm, compared with about 45 minutes by road. 'The plan is to deliver the first vertiport at Dubai International Airport in Q1 2026 and hopefully start commercial services very soon after,' said Anthony Khoury, Joby's UAE general manager. He said an application would allow a passenger who landed at DXB airport to order an aircraft at the DXB vertiport, fly to The Palm and take an Uber to the final destination. 'Uber is our first partner, but we will be integrating with other modes of transport to have a cohesive, comprehensive, multimodal experience,' Mr Khoury said. 'So, you don't really need to think about first mile, last mile and how do I get to the vertiport. Everything will be integrated.' It is planned that more stops will be added in Dubai to the initial four, with the initiative also expanded within each emirate to deliver connections between them. Affordable vision Joby has yet to specify its pricin g, but has said it aims to be affordable. 'Our vision is to have affordability,' Mr Khoury said. 'Our ambition is for this to be accessible for everyone who wants to take an aerial taxi.' Archer Aviation, another air taxi company, which plans to launch services in Abu Dhabi, had earlier said inner-city travel would cost Dh300 ($81) to Dh350, while travel to other emirates would range from Dh800 to Dh1,500, according to local media. UberChopper in Dubai charges Dh520 per person for a 12-minute tour, or Dh1,050 per person for a 25‑minute city circuit. Why Dubai? Joby Aviation was invited by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, in 2024 to bring aerial taxis to the city and then signed an agreement with the Road and Transport Authority to be the exclusive provider. 'What you saw today is phase one,' Mr Papadopoulos said. 'We were able to bring an aircraft here, fly on a regular basis to be able to demonstrate the performance of this aircraft for a Dubai-type of operation, particularly thinking about temperatures and humidity. 'Over the next few months, you will see us come in here and fly in additional capacities as we get into the commercialisation next year.' Joby, which flew its first piloted test flight in New York a few years ago, said Dubai was selected to launch commercial operations due to the co-operation with the RTA and regulatory agencies, such as the General Civil Aviation Authority and Dubai Civil Aviation Authority. 'The problem we're trying to solve is congestion around cities, connecting people from point A to point B and these are really common problem statements around the world,' Mr Papadopoulos said. 'In New York we're definitely focusing on making progress there and with the regulatory agency, the FAA [Federal Aviation Authority]. 'We were very fortunate to have this relationship in Dubai and the UAE with the RTA, GCAA, DCAA, where they were open to introducing this airplane and rolling it out first. So, we took this opportunity and this collaboration to be able to start here, in addition to the US development.' Joby Aviation's test flight – in pictures
