H.H. Sheikh Hamdan reviews newly completed air taxi station near DXB

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, said that the completion of Dubai’s first air taxi station marks a strategic leap in the emirate’s journey to lead the future of urban mobility.

He made the remarks while reviewing progress at the first purpose-built electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi station near Dubai International Airport (DXB).

The station, described as the first of its kind globally, will serve as the main hub for air taxi operations in the city and has been developed by Skyports Infrastructure in partnership with Joby Aviation and overseen by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The facility comprises a four-storey building spanning 3,100 square metres, a two-level car park, two take-off and landing pads, dedicated charging infrastructure and climate-controlled passenger facilities, with a capacity to serve up to 170,000 passengers annually.

Hamdan bin Mohammed reviews newly completed Air Taxi Station near Dubai International Airport, the first facility of its kind in the world. The station serves as the main hub for Air Taxi operations in the city. The project is being delivered by Skyports Infrastructure, a company… pic.twitter.com/qrU7O3Wx2N

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 16, 2026

The air taxi service is expected to significantly cut travel times across the city, with trips from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah projected at around 10 minutes.

It will also support integration with the public transport network, as well as individual mobility modes such as electric scooters and bicycles, facilitating multimodal journeys.

Commercial air taxi operations are expected to launch by the end of the year, marking a major step in Dubai’s push towards smart and sustainable urban mobility.

The completion of the air taxi station follows a year of rapid operational scaling for Joby. In November 2025, the company completed the nation’s first piloted point-to-point air taxi flight, a 17-minute journey from its Margham test facility to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).

This milestone was accompanied by a rigorous summer flight campaign, during which Joby conducted 21 piloted flights to validate aircraft performance in desert heat.

These tests provided critical data on thermal management and flight dynamics in high-temperature, low-density air, directly supporting the finalisation of operating manuals and certification requirements for the region.

Previously, the RTA had announced additional stations to support air taxi operations in Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina.

By 2026, this will bring the total number of planned stations to four, including the station near DXB, forming the initial network for the electric air taxi service.

Under an agreement with the RTA, Joby holds the exclusive right to operate air taxi services in Dubai for six years.

To support this long-term commitment, Joby has established a local operating entity and is focusing on building the local workforce required for commercial operations.

The company plans to recruit the majority of its operational and pilot team from the UAE for its Dubai operations, further deepening its roots in the region. 

Hamdan bin Mohammed reviews newly completed Air Taxi Station near Dubai International Airport, the first facility of its kind in the world. @rta_dubai I @jobyaviation I @Skyports_Infra pic.twitter.com/X9Yjd7rIvo

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 16, 2026