Joby Aviation has delivered its first aircraft to the United Arab Emirates and successfully launched commercial market readiness work in Dubai. This includes a series of piloted, vertical-takeoff-and-landing wingborne flights, marking a key milestone in the company’s commercialisation strategy, which comprises direct operations, aircraft sales, and regional partnerships.
The achievement follows Joby’s 2024 agreement with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), granting the company exclusive rights to operate air taxis in the city for six years. The test flights were conducted in partnership with the RTA, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), and the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
Vertiport construction is underway at Dubai International Airport (DXB) in collaboration with Skyports Infrastructure, with completion targeted for the first quarter of 2026. Initial service plans include connections between DXB, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, and Downtown Dubai. A typical flight between DXB and Palm Jumeirah is expected to take 12 minutes, compared to 45 minutes by car.
Joby’s electric air taxi is designed to carry a pilot and up to four passengers, travel at speeds of up to 200 mph (approximately 320 km/h), and operate with minimal noise and zero emissions.
This phase of operations builds on nearly two years of hot weather testing at Edwards Air Force Base in the United States. The company brings over 15 years of engineering experience, more than 40,000 miles of flight testing, piloted transition flights, and demonstrated multi-aircraft operations to the programme.
