Joby Aviation will launch flying taxis in Dubai next year, offering passengers battery-powered aircraft rides booked like a ride-hailing service.
The company recently completed the Middle East’s first eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) flight in the UAE, building on development in Texas and locally.
Test pilot Peter Wilson, who has flown F-35 jets, praised the aircraft’s smooth handling and safety, noting its simple controls and six emergency propellers.
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The SUV-sized air taxis will carry up to four passengers from designated vertiports, including one at Al Maktoum International Airport, with cars completing the journey to final destinations. Trips from the airport to downtown Dubai could take 10 minutes, compared with 45 by road. The aircraft flies at 1,500–3,000 feet and has a 100-mile range.
CEO JoeBen Bevirt highlighted the quiet operation, calling it “dramatically quieter than a helicopter and nearly silent overhead,” and said charging stations will support frequent flights.
Dubai will be the first launch, with U.S. cities expected to follow. Some experts, however, caution about urban safety and economic feasibility.