Air Taxis in Dubai: Book via App, Catch an Uber, and Fly
Dubai is set to launch highly-anticipated flying taxis by late 2025, along with an aerial ridesharing service that integrates traditional ridesharing with flight options, allowing customers to travel from their homes or offices to their final destinations.
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This announcement was made by Tyler Trerotola, general manager of Joby Aviation, during the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress and Exhibition in Dubai.
Trerotola confirmed that the launch of Joby’s electric air taxi has been moved up from 2026 to the end of 2025. He also revealed an agreement with Uber to provide transportation from customers’ locations to one of four vertiports in Dubai, and then from the vertiport to their final stop.
Skyports Infrastructure is set to build the four vertiports at Dubai International Airport (DXB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown, and Dubai Marina. A typical journey from DXB to Palm Jumeirah is expected to take just 10 minutes by air taxi, compared to about 45 minutes by car.
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Booking an air taxi will be done through a mobile app, with Uber serving as the first and last mile solution.
Recently, Joby Aviation applied to become the first certified air taxi operator in Dubai, a requirement from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for commercial air transport.
Earlier this year, Joby signed a definitive agreement with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to initiate air taxi services, followed by a multilateral Memorandum of Understanding with various Abu Dhabi departments.
Fare Details
While Trerotola did not disclose specific fare prices for the flying taxis, he indicated that costs would depend on market demand. He emphasized that they aim to scale the market to eventually reduce fares, stating, “We are offering a premium service.”
The eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) air taxi can accommodate up to five passengers, including the pilot, and has a flying range of up to 160 km at speeds of 320 km/h at an altitude of 1,640 feet.
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Noise Levels and Safety
Trerotola highlighted that the air taxi is designed to operate throughout the day with minimal noise, registering only 45 decibels during trials—comparable to the sound of rainfall.
Regarding safety, he noted that they have conducted approximately 60,000 km of test flights. The pilots flying the air taxis will be trained commercial pilots from the U.S., although the number of pilots and air taxis available at launch has yet to be disclosed.
Trerotola emphasized that they will be the exclusive air taxi operator in Dubai, although other significant players are emerging in the UAE. Archer Aviation, another U.S.-based company, has already completed over 400 test flights of its “Midnight” model in preparation for its launch next year.
Future Developments
Ahmed Mahboob, CEO of corporate administrative support services at the RTA, mentioned that Dubai authorities are considering dedicated lanes for autonomous vehicles, including a specific flight path for aerial taxis. The city aims to transition 25 percent of its transportation to autonomous modes by 2030.
Currently, there are dedicated lanes for soft mobility options like bikes and e-scooters, and the RTA is also looking to expand dedicated bus lanes to enhance road safety and efficiency.
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