Middle East's eVTOL statistics

The Middle East is becoming one of the fastest-growing regions for e-VTOL operations with the oil rich region splashing the cash to make sure it is at the forefront of future air travel. The UAE and Saudi Arabia, in particular, are becoming the big players in the e-VTOL/revolutionary urban air mobility (UAM) markets.

Two sites, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have been identified as initial locations for the new generation of e-VTOL aircraft that are predicted to become part of the aeronautical landscape in the coming decade.

US e-VTOL aircraft manufacturer Joby signed a definitive agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch air taxi services in the Emirate by early 2026, with Joby targeting initial operations as early as 2025. It has also signed an agreement with Skyports, which will design, build and operate four initial vertiport sites across Dubai.

Now another US provider of e-VTOL aircraft, Archer Aviation has a big ambition, to transform urban travel, replacing 60- to 90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10- to 20-minute electric air taxi flights.

In May, the company signed a framework agreement in the emirate, and it plans to launch commercial air taxi operations in the UAE as soon as next year, including in-country manufacturing, operations and training across the region.

The company, in collaboration with ADIO, plans to commence air taxi operations with Archer’s Midnight aircraft. It has already signed an MoU with Etihad Training that lays the groundwork for a partnership to recruit and train prospective pilots to fly aircraft across the UAE.

“This substantial agreement with Abu Dhabi is a pivotal moment for Archer’s commercialisation efforts across the Emirates, as it provides the catalyst to accelerate the launch of our electric air taxi service in the UAE as soon as late 2025,” said Archer founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein.

“With Abu Dhabi’s support, we are poised to continue leading the transformation of urban transportation in the Emirate and across the globe.”

Chinese manufacturer EHang, which develops and manufactures autonomous aerial vehicles and passenger AAVs, is also tapping into the Middle East market.

The company’s pilotless e-VTOL aircraft EH216-S successfully completed its first passenger-carrying demo flight in Abu Dhabi in May – this actually marked the first-of-its-kind demonstration in the UAE and Middle East.

Additionally, the EH216-F (for high-rise firefighting) and EH216-L (for aerial logistics) demonstrated their debut flights in the UAE.

Huazhi Hu, founder, CEO, and chairman of EHang, said: “After securing the approval for passenger-carrying demo flights and conducting the debut flight, we will actively foster collaboration and communication between the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GCAA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China to expedite the progress towards commercial flights of our pilotless aircraft in the UAE, which will become a milestone in the advancement of Abu Dhabi and the global air mobility sector.”

In June, the company, along with technology provider Front End, also successfully demonstrated its first unmanned air taxi trial in Mecca – paving the way for future implementation of smart mobility solutions in the Kingdom.

EHang worked together with GACA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, the Ministry of Hajj, and the Ministry of Interior, to make a step towards a more efficient and sustainable Hajj.

Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, president of GACA, said: “The trial marks a major advancement in integrating AAM solutions into Saudi Arabia’s aviation landscape. This trial acts as a proof of concept for multiple use cases and contributes to various AAM roadmap initiatives.”

Hot on its heels will be Archer, who is already in talks with the Saudi authorities about establishing a foothold in the Kingdom too.