UAE’s Aviation Authority Signs Agreement to Support Self-Flying Travel, Starts Planning Air Routes
The UAE’s civil aviation authority has made a partnership with the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi, and ASPIRE. This partnership aims to support both piloted and self-flying air travel in the country.
UAE Plans for Air Taxis and Drones
The UAE is working on mapping air routes and making rules for flying taxis and cargo drones, its civil aviation authority announced at the World Governments Summit (WGS) on Thursday.
This project will help companies share their knowledge about managing airspace. The partnership will use experts, industry leaders, and regulators to create rules that ensure safety and smooth operations.
“This project will help the economy grow by providing a new and efficient way of transport, reducing traffic on roads,” said Stephane Timpano, CEO of ASPIRE.
The air routes and regulations should be ready within 20 months. These routes will connect important international airports in the UAE. The government’s news agency reported that air taxis are expected to start flying by 2026.
The partners in this project will work to safely bring air taxis and cargo drones into cities, reducing the burden on roads.
TII is developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology that helps air taxis and drones make quick and safe decisions while flying, said Enrico Natalizio, a top researcher at the company. He added that their work helps design the best flight paths and prevent collisions.
Air Taxi Plans
In February last year, Skyports Infrastructure signed an agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) and Joby Aviation to start passenger air taxi services in Dubai by 2026. This deal was also signed at the WGS.
These air taxis, which run on electricity, are expected to launch in early 2026 as part of the UAE’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) plans.
“The first of the four take-off and landing points for flying taxis in Dubai should be ready by early 2026,” said Khaled Al Awadhi, director of the transportation systems department at RTA.
The four locations will be:
- Dubai International Airport (DXB)
- Palm Jumeirah
- Dubai Marina
- Dubai Downtown
The air taxis will mainly connect hotels with the airport. Each taxi will carry a pilot and four passengers.
Published: 14th February 2025
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