• Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announces the Country’s plan to take off flying taxis. 
  • The announcement was made on Sunday through the Twitter handle of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
  • The video attached highlighted the electric flying taxi designed by Joby Aviation of Santa Cruz
dubai flying taxi
Pic Credits: Pexels

Dubai has taken yet another step to welcome the flying taxis- a step towards a futuristic vision. The announcement was made by the vice president and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. His tweet read “ From the World Government Summit, we approved today the design of the new air taxi stations in Dubai, which will start operating within three years,”

As Sheikh Mohammed announced the design for the flying taxi was approved during the World Government Summit organised during 13 – 15 Feb 2023 with an aim to bring global leaders and experts together to shape future governments. Although the design by Joby Aviation was featured in the video as per Emirates Roads and Transport authority, no official deal has been signed yet. It was made clear by Ahmed Bahrozyan “We haven’t yet signed with any partners yet,” an official at ERTA. 

Dubai has a descriptive plan for its flying taxi future, they are also planning to establish four “ vertiports” – a station to launch and charge the flying taxis. The four destinations chosen for this are the Dubai International Airport, Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah. We believe those are attractive areas with business hubs and tourist hubs that could generate considerable demand,”.

Joby aircraft are designed to be a more efficient, faster and cleaner way of transportation. It is powered by six electric motors and designed in a way it can take off and land vertically. The prototype featured is capable to fly around 240 ki

The Joby prototype can fly over 240 kilometres before it needs to be charged it has a maximum speed of  320 kph. The pricing for the flying taxis will be also made reasonable and “will be in the range of a limousine service in Dubai, maybe slightly higher – at least 30 per cent higher than taxi fares” 

If all comes into motion Dubai will become the first city in the world that has a flying taxi service with a fully developed vertiports network.