Dubai Sets Sights On Skies With Joby Aviation's All-Electric Air Taxi Service

California-based Joby Aviation, Inc. JOBY on Sunday said that it has agreed with Dubai Road and Transport Authority to launch an all-electric air taxi service in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

What Happened: Joby is aiming to launch services in UAE by early 2026 at Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, and Dubai Downtown.

The agreement was officially signed at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. The deal allows Joby to be the sole operator of air taxis in Dubai for six years.

“Today's landmark agreement delivers on all three ingredients required to successfully launch an air taxi service – a definitive path to operations, well-placed infrastructure supported by dedicated partners, and an aircraft with the capacity and range to deliver meaningful journeys,” Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt said in a statement.

Joby has also agreed with Skyports to build as well as operate four vertiport sites across Dubai.

Joby’s AirCraft: The company’s aircraft can carry a pilot and four passengers at up to 200 miles per hour speed. The nearly 22-mile journey from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah in the aircraft will take just 10 minutes on the aircraft as opposed to 45 minutes on the road, the company said.

Joby has received investments from several popular names including Toyota, Delta Air Lines, SK Telecom, Uber, and Baillie Gifford thus far. In September 2023, Joby delivered an electric air taxi to the U.S. Department of Defense. Two months later, it became the first electric taxi to fly in New York.

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