UAE Air Taxi Certifications Will Be Completed In The Third Quarter Next Year

JAKARTA - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) aviation regulator estimates that air taxi certification will be completed in the third quarter of 2026, as the country continues its smart mobility plan to reduce road traffic congestion and attract international tourists.

"The accuracy of these machines is in process, we expect certification to be completed next year, in the third quarter, when the machines are ready to operate," UAE General Aviation Authority (GCAA) Director General Saif Al Suwaidi told The National, as reported November 28.

Certification will only run according to the expected schedule if all safety requirements are met, according to GCAA.

"Right after certification, they will be allowed to operate," Al Suwaidi said, adding that the program schedule was being determined through coordination with applicants, he said.

Regulators have also formed a special team for each eVTOL program (to take off and land vertically electric).

The UAE itself said it would start commercial electric air taxi services next year.

Earlier this year, California-based Joby Aviation, in collaboration with Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, conducted an electric air taxi test. Archer Aviation has also completed its first air taxi test flight in Abu Dhabi.

Separately, Ras Al Khaimah previously said it would launch its first passenger air taxi service in 2027, as the emirate made efforts to improve its infrastructure amid plans to open its first gambling resort in the UAE in the same year.

Transport Authority Ras Al Khaimah signed an initial pact with Joby Aviation and UK-based Skyports Infrastructure to start the service.

The air taxi network will operate on Ras Al Khaimah, but will also connect Joby services planned in Dubai with major tourist destinations in the northern emirate, reducing travel time between the two cities from more than an hour to 15 minutes.

"Initially, the tariff will be comparable to premium car services. Along with the increase in the scale and number of flights, we hope to make this service more affordable," said Anthony Khoury, general manager of Joby Aviation for the UAE, to The National at the time.

"GCAA has laid the groundwork for advanced air mobility," said Al Suwaidi, when asked about the regulatory framework for air traffic management in busy airspace, which will have drones, flying taxis, and commercial aircraft.

"We have built a national platform for drones and low-level traffic, namely eVTOL, which is already online and active," he explained.

"We already have this management system, so there is no concern in terms of air control," said Al Suwaidi.