UAE gets its first vertiport + signs several eVTOL agreements

First UAE vertiport gets green light: The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) granted operational approval to Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Abu Dhabi Mobility (AD Mobility) to launch the country’s inaugural vertiport — a micro-scale airport designed for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts, according to a statement published on Friday. AD Mobility — which represents Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport — is set to regulate the advanced air mobility sector in Abu Dhabi by working in conjunction with GCAA. The GCAA plans to launch air taxis by 1Q 2026.

What they said: “The collaboration between ADIO and AD Mobility will see vertiports setup in strategic locations across Abu Dhabi, including major business hubs and tourism destinations. Once complete, the vertiport network will be a key enabler of Abu Dhabi’s SAVI cluster,” Director General of AD Mobility Abdulla Al Marzouqi said.

REMEMBER- Not the first vertiport in the works: Canadian air mobility infrastructure developer Vports signed an MoU with UAE’s Ras Al Khaimah Airport last year to build and operate a 10k sqm vertiport. By 2030, VPorts plans to extend its vertiport network to all major industrial areas across the UAE including Dubai South, Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. The GCAA published the world’s first national regulation related to vertiports covering their design and operational requirements back in December 2022.

ADIO is on a roll: ADIO has also partnered with Multi Level Group (MLG) and China-based autonomous and electric air mobility company EHang to develop eVTOLs in the UAE, according to a statement published on Friday. EHang plans to establish its regional headquarters in Abu Dhabi, focusing on manufacturing, flight operations, R&D, training, and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, which ADIO will support through providing EHang with data, information, and connections to the Abu Dhabi ecosystem and international trade paths.

Not Ehang’s first UAE partnership: Abu Dhabi-based infrastructure investment company Monarch Holding signed an agreement with Ehang Holding last year to establish a manufacturing facility for eVTOL aircrafts and drones. The agreement includes the establishment of a command-and-control center to manage air mobility autonomously, as well as building vertiports designed for the electric aircrafts.

And that’s not all: ADIO has partnered with Neom-backed electric seaglider manufacturer Regent to develop and produce the vehicles in Masdar City's Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry cluster, according to a statement on Thursday. The seagliders are designed with a range of up to 300 km using current battery technology with the potential to increase up to 800 km. Neom’s undisclosed investment in Regent is part of a multi-year partnership to establish electric seaglider passenger operations in the region. Since then, Regent partnered with Aramex to provide sustainable logistics in the UAE.

Joby Aviation is moving forward with its air taxi plans: Joby Aviationinked an MoU with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport to lay the groundwork for it to introduce inter-emirate electric air tax services as early as 2025, according to a statement published on Thursday. The air taxi manufacturer already holds a license to operate in Dubai for six years.

Archer followed suit: California-based electric flying car manufacturer Archer Aviation also signed a framework agreement with the ADIO to construct vertiports in Abu Dhabi, according to a statement published on Thursday. The framework agreement also includes “operational enablement” for air taxis in the country, as well as locally manufacturing Archer’s Midnight aircraft.

This has been in the works: Abu Dhabi-headquartered aviation services provider Falcon Aviation inked an agreement with Archer to develop a vertiport network in key locations across Dubai and Abu Dhabi by 2025 last month.