Team Blitz India
DUBAI will launch the world’s first city-wide aerial tax service in 2026, according to the Gulf Today. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, together with Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), saw the signing of an agreement to launch an aerial taxi service.
Sheikh Mohammed, accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan, also reviewed the Joby Aviation S4 Aerial taxi, which is scheduled for commercial operations in 2026. The project is part of RTA’s future mobility initiatives and is aimed at providing transportation services for both Dubai residents and visitors.
On his part, Sheikh Mohammed was briefed by Mattar Al Tayer, DirectorGeneral, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, about the progress of the aerial taxi operations. The aerial taxi is an innovative transportation service which uses cuttingedge technology to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of individuals within urban areas. The initiative aims to integrate with Dubai’s public transport network.
The Joby Aviation S4 is designed to accommodate four passengers plus the pilot safely and securely. It is equipped with six propellers and four battery packs, enabling it to cover a maximum distance of 161km. With a top speed of up to 321km per hour, the aerial taxi is less noisy than helicopters. Its vertical take-off and landing capability makes it efficient for urban environments, eliminating the need for extensive horizontal space typically required for conventional stations.
This agreement marks a global first, establishing a binding partnership between a governmental body, an aircraft manufacturer and operator and a vertiport owner and operator. Under the agreement, RTA will oversee advanced air mobility services, with Joby providing an aerial ridesharing service and Skyports being granted the exclusive rights to design, construct and operate a network of vertiports
