Dubai lives decades ahead of its time. The city has a distinct competitive spirit when it comes to integrating the technologies of the future across every sector. Among all, transportation remains the most experimental and rapidly evolving field. Starting next year, autonomous vehicles will begin running on Dubai’s roads. By 2030, the emirate aims to make 25 per cent of its public transport autonomous.
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Alongside this, Dubai continues to astonish global cities with its ambitious air taxi trials. Beginning in 2026, both Dubai and Abu Dhabi will officially launch air taxi services. For the past two years, extensive trials have been under way in both cities. Leading global firms, including Joby Aviation from the United States, have provided their most advanced air taxi models to the UAE. Beyond just service operations, manufacturing facilities for these air taxis are also being established within the country—placing the UAE at the forefront of next-generation mobility innovation.
Ahead of the official rollout, Dubai successfully completed its first manned air taxi test flight, taking off from Margham and landing at Al Maktoum International Airport. Capable of flying at speeds up to 320 km/h, these air taxis promise to transform urban mobility—delivering passengers to their destinations in minutes.
To elevate the quality of urban life, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has been implementing several futuristic mobility projects, including the air taxi initiative. The project was recently reviewed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the RTA, briefed Sheikh Hamdan on the progress in the transport sector.
Construction is already under way on Dubai’s first vertiport, located near Dubai International Airport. The four-storey facility, covering 3,100 square meters, will include parking areas and passenger lounges designed for seamless air–ground connectivity.
A regular air taxi service is planned between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, while within Dubai, vertiports will be established at key locations including Dubai International Airport, Jumeirah, Downtown, and Dubai Marina.
By adopting such cutting-edge solutions, Dubai is redefining the very concept of mobility—flying above traffic congestion and soaring toward a smarter, faster, and cleaner future.
