Dubai’s a city of many wonders, and when you think you’ve seen them all, it just pulls another one out of the hat. On the list of its many surprises, “flying taxis” are perhaps the next big thing to grace the city. You would recall that on Tuesday, September 17th, 2024, the RTA confirmed via the Emirates News Agency that the first of the four initial vertiports will be operational in the first quarter of 2026.
The city’s making good on its promise of bringing fast and reliable means of public transportation to the doorstep of Emiratis, and now a significant step has been taken to make this a reality.
Major Announcement: “Dubai Crewed Flying Taxi Test”
After more than a year following the RTA’s announcement in September 2024, one of the most anticipated public transportation projects in the world is expected to see the light soon.
Seeing futuristic flying taxis in Dubai hovering over the city’s skies transporting passengers to their desired destinations will become just another normal day in while the rest of the world waits to catch up. The goal of this project is to tackle congestion in the city and provide alternative transport services, although this will only be deployed in a few cities for a start.
According to a report by TimeOut Dubai, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, a revelation was made that the first-ever Dubai crewed flying taxi test had been completed. A success story that would see the deployment of air taxis in Dubai from next year.
Reports say the air taxi took off from the Dubai desert and landed at the Al Maktoum International Airport. A trip was made from Magnam to the DWC in preparation for the Dubai Airshow.
Plans indicate that residents may be able to enjoy flying taxis in Dubai from the first half of the year 2026, after the construction of the vertiport is completed. The vertiports will allow the aircrafts to carry out vertical take offs and landing.
Where will the Flying Taxis Be First Deployed?
Over the past year, operational testing and research have been conducted by the RTA’s flying taxi service partner Joby Aviation. The trials were carried out in the Dubai desert where the air taxi made its first-ever crewed flight from. Trials were conducted in preparation for deployment across four major neighborhoods in Dubai next year.
The four locations where air taxis begin operations in Dubai in the first half of 2026 are Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina. The service is expected to become operational in other cities sometime in the future.
They are set to become fully operational with the completion of aerial vertiports in the city. Skyports Infrastructure is building the first facility near Dubai International Airport DXB, and it will cover an area of 3,100 square metres across four levels.
The first vertiport will feature two floors dedicated to vehicle parking and another two ports dedicated to take-off and landing. All vertiports will include fully air-conditioned passenger facilities.
How Do You Recognize an Air Taxi in 2026?
If you see a vehicle that looks like a helicopter but with six propellers, that’s the flying taxi making a trip somewhere in the city.
It’s designed to be fully electric and packs quite the punch with four independent battery packs which allow it to travel up to 160km at a top speed of 320km/h. The air taxis will accommodate four passengers in addition to a pilot for each trip.
For the green enthusiasts, this goal is well in line with Dubai’s mission to provide environmentally friendly services while still delivering on safety, comfort, and speed for timely arrivals.
Alternative Transport Services Before Deployment
The future is already here and will indeed transform Dubai into a city perhaps unrivaled. While we await this significant change, other transportation services within the city offer reliable alternatives. Beno Dubai especially has an amazing lineup of premium rental cars for commuting within the city.
Even with the deployment of flying taxis in Dubai, it would only be accessible in four locations initially before its expansion, and due to high demand, might have limited slots for other passengers. Private car rentals from Beno remain one of the most reliable ways to travel within the city of Dubai.
FAQs
- What kind of aircraft are being tested?
The vehicles will be fully electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft capable of carrying four passengers in addition to the pilot per trip.
- When will they be commercial?
No official date yet but according to reports, they may be deployed by the first half of 2026.
- What's the purpose of the test flights?
The Dubai crewed flying taxi test was performed to demonstrate the technology and assess its readiness for deployment.
- How much will a ride cost?
A ride is estimated to cost around AED 300-350 within Dubai and potentially up to AED 800 for longer flights.
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