Dubai's first air taxi vertiport gets the green light ahead of launch

Located near Dubai International Airport, the new hub has received regulatory certification, marking a major milestone for Dubai’s future air taxi. Once fully operational, the site is expected to handle up to 170,000 passengers each year.

The 3,100-square-metre vertiport has been designed for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and includes two take-off and landing pads. The airport location will be the main hub in Dubai’s planned air taxi network, with more vertiports already in the works across the city. Construction is currently under way at Dubai Marina, while additional sites are planned for Dubai Mall and Palm Jumeirah as part of the wider rollout.

Dubai has previously announced that it plans to launch commercial air taxi services before the end of 2026, offering a new way to travel across the city while helping to reduce journey times between key destinations.

Also read: Visitors can now see a flying taxi at Museum of the Future in Dubai

How will you book an air taxi?

Booking an air taxi is expected to be as easy as booking a regular ride. You’ll be able to book through the Uber app, the official RTA app, and a dedicated Joby app, which is expected to launch soon.

After arriving at the vertiport, you’ll check in through the terminal before boarding. The process is expected to take around five minutes, and you’ll also be able to connect to an Uber at your destination for the rest of your journey.

How much will it cost?

Joby has previously said fares are expected to be similar to an Uber Black ride. Prices may be higher when the service first launches, but the aim is to make them more affordable over time.

While there’s no official launch date just yet, Dubai’s air taxis are getting closer to becoming a reality, and we’ll be keeping an eye out for take-off.