Dubai is poised to soar to new heights as flying taxis are set to become operational in the city by 2026. Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports, the company responsible for constructing the UAE's inaugural vertiport, made this announcement during the closing day of the 3rd Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport. Discussing the future of air mobility, Walker stated, "By 2026, Dubai will lead the world as the first city with a comprehensive network of vertiports dedicated to permanent air taxi services."
The flying taxi will have its hub near Dubai International Airport (DXB) and initially will operate to and from vertiport stations in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown and Dubai Marina. The rollout of the Aerial Taxi will reduce the travel time from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah, from 46 minutes to 6 minutes.
Praising Dubai as an outstanding global benchmark in both aviation and sports, Walker attributed Dubai's reputation to its contemporary infrastructure, world-class airports, and the steadfast backing of the Dubai Government. He stated, "An exemplary project on the horizon is the Aerial Taxi set for the start of operations in 2026. This groundbreaking venture will travel at a maximum distance of 241 km, cruising at speeds of up to 300 km per hour."
Walker also emphasised that flying taxis offer numerous advantages beyond time savings when compared to ground transportation. Aerial taxis operate with a zero-carbon mission, contributing to a reduction in ground congestion.
Concluding the session, Walker highlighted that the Aerial Taxi project, along with other aviation initiatives in Dubai, was positioned to propel the emirate to the forefront of global cities leading the way in advancing air mobility.