Today, Joby Aviation dropped off its first production electric air taxi in Dubai, kicking open the door for the world’s first commercial air taxi service, ready to soar by early 2026. This slick six-rotor ride can whisk a pilot and four passengers at a blazing 200 mph, shrinking the 45-minute crawl from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah into a quick 12-minute jaunt.
Joby’s aircraft proved its ruggedness through nearly two years of brutal hot-weather testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California, ready to tackle Dubai’s scorching climate. Teaming up with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Joby snagged exclusive air taxi rights in the emirate for six years. “The UAE is our springboard to redefine global mobility,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Joby’s founder and CEO. “Our flights in Dubai are the first stitches in weaving air taxis into everyday life worldwide.”
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Work on Joby’s first commercial vertiport at Dubai International Airport (DXB) is already well underway, with completion slated for Q1 2026. More vertiports are planned for Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, and Dubai Downtown, forming a network for smooth, zero-emission travel across the city. Mattar Al Tayer, RTA’s Director General, put it boldly: “This isn’t just a test flight—it’s the dawn of clean, fast, smart travel.” Bookable via a Joby app as easily as a ride-share, the service aims to match ground transport prices over time.
Joby’s aircraft is a tech marvel—quiet, emission-free, and built for a 100-mile range with seamless shifts from vertical to horizontal flight. It leaves traditional, gas-chugging helicopters in the dust. “Our tech makes air travel more accessible, safer, quieter, and greener than helicopters,” Joby told The National, with pilot Peter Wilson steering the test flights.
Dubai’s just the start. Joby’s nearing FAA certification in the U.S., with testing in its final stretch, eyeing cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Florida. A $131 million U.S. Air Force contract for nine eVTOLs and a potential $1 billion deal with Abdul Latif Jameel for up to 200 aircraft signal big things ahead. “We’re moving from ‘will it happen?’ to ‘it’s here,’” said Paul Sciarra, Joby’s board chair, capturing the shift from dream to reality.
In a city that thrives on big ideas, Dubai’s the perfect launchpad for Joby’s air taxis. As vertiports take shape and 2026 looms, gliding above traffic in a silent, electric craft feels more like tomorrow’s commute.
