Construction of Dubai’s first vertiport at DXB Airport begins

Dubai: The construction of Dubai’s first vertiport at the Dubai International Airport (DXB) has commenced, announced Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister. 

Sheikh Hamdan underlined that Dubai’s dedication to sustainability, safety, and innovation will continue to influence how people travel throughout the world in the future. With the use of a cutting-edge air taxi take-off and landing network, the project seeks to establish Dubai as the first city in the world to provide urban aerial transport.

The new facility, spread over 3,100-square-metre, will be able to accommodate 170,000 passengers and 42,000 landings per year. With services anticipated to begin in 2026, the project’s first phase will include stations in Downtown, Dubai Marina, and Palm Jumeirah.

The vertiport is designed to be integrated with Dubai’s multimodal transport network, providing seamless connectivity with Dubai Metro’s Emirates Station 2, DXB Airport, parking infrastructure, and other ground transportation options. 

Designed for exceptional passenger experience and high throughput, the three-storied facility is designed to demonstrate a future vision for air travel focused on convenience and seamless passenger movements. The facility is planned to include two take-off and landing stands, each equipped with the Joby-designed Global Electric Aviation Charging System (“GEACS”) to support rapid vehicle charging and conditioning in between flights.

Leading worldwide operators will work together on the project; Joby Aviation will be in charge of aircraft production, operations, and passenger flow, while Skyports will be in charge of the infrastructure design, building, and management of the vertiport. Governance and integration with other forms of transportation will fall under the purview of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The main means of transportation for the air taxi service will be the Joby S4 aerial taxi, which can take off and land vertically. This emission-free, environmentally friendly electric car is renowned for its speed, comfort, and safety. Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph, offering high-speed mobility with a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters and zero operating emissions.

Joby recently announced it has taken the first step toward becoming a certificated air taxi operator in the United Arab Emirates. As part of the process to attain an Air Operator Certificate from the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority, Joby will demonstrate the readiness of its aircraft as well as its training, maintenance, operations and safety programs for commercial air transport.

“Our air taxi service in Dubai will offer tourists and residents the opportunity to experience a revolutionary travel experience, with faster movement between key destinations and breathtaking views of the city skyline,” commented JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby.

“With the start of construction on our air taxi network, our shared vision for electric air taxi service in Dubai is coming to life. I’m grateful to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and to the government of Dubai for their support and commitment to innovation.”