Flying taxis will take off in Abu Dhabi in 2026, as the emirate looks to become a major international force in smart and autonomous vehicles.
Archer Aviation, a leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has announced it has entered into an agreement with Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) to launch commence air taxi operations in Abu Dhabi in 2026.
Archer plans to slash 60 to 90-minute car journeys to an estimated 10 to 20 minute electric air taxi flights.
Flying taxis in Abu Dhabi
Archer’s Midnight is a piloted, four-passenger aircraft designed to perform rapid back-to-back flights with minimal charge time between flights.
As part of this strategic initiative, ADIO plans to support Archer with incentives for establishing its first international headquarters and manufacturing facilities in the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) Cluster in Abu Dhabi.
Archer is seeking to work with its global manufacturing partner Stellantis, as well as local partners in the UAE, to build out its aircraft manufacturing capabilities and its Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority, said: “The GCAA recently visited Archer Aviation’s global headquarters in California to inspect its Midnight aircraft and learn about their certification progress with the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Our goal is to approve Archer’s air taxi to fly in the UAE as soon as it is certified by the FAA, and we are very excited to collaborate with them to bring electric air taxis to the country.”
Badr Al-Olama, Acting Director General of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, said: “We are thrilled to work with Archer to host their first international operations in Abu Dhabi.
“Bringing electric aviation to the UAE will help unlock congestion with zero emissions and, in turn, bring millions in foreign direct investment and thousands of jobs to the region over the next decade.”
Archer has raised over $1.1 billion of funding to date, including investments from Mubadala Capital, United Airlines, Stellantis, and Boeing.
Archer Aviation’s Founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, said: “We are excited to announce this joint collaboration for the United Arab Emirates to become our first international market outside of the United States.
“Archer plans to partner closely with ADIO and the Department of Economic Development to bring manufacturing and operations for our air taxis to the region. Together, we are positioned to be a driving force in making all-electric air taxis a reality in the skies of the UAE and beyond in the coming years.”
Archer is working with numerous industry partners across the UAE to support its plans to commercialise operations in the UAE by 2026.
Archer signed MOUs with Falcon Aviation, which will operate its air taxis across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office has also announced that it is signing an agreement with Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA), the largest commercial helicopter operator in the Middle East.
The collaboration follows the launch of Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster in Masdar City.
ADA will be establishing a state-of-the-art eVTOL MRO facility, further complementing Abu Dhabi’s extensive portfolio of MRO businesses and promoting smart and autonomous vehicle solutions and applications.
In line with the SAVI cluster’s ambitions to tap into synergies and shared technologies, ADIO and ADA will also collaborate with local UAE airlines, global electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) OEMs and key international partners.
ADA will also play a key role in supporting SAVI bring together all relevant stakeholders to advance value chain development by partnering with technology companies operating in SAVI, and by commercialising intellectual property and innovations created through joint research and development.
ADA will also be further complementing knowledge transfer and national capabilities through its pilot training facility, further promoting eVTOL services.
Abu Dhabi’s SAVI cluster provides state-of-the-art facilities and value-add services within an enabling regulatory environment.
ADA will be working closely with local regulators to adopt an efficient, clear and proactive regulatory framework that will support the future of aviation mobility worldwide.
Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) provides aviation offshore oil support and other services worldwide, and in particular, for Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas production companies.
The company also provides VVIP passenger transportation services, Search and Rescue for UAE, crop spraying, aerial construction, seismic support, firefighting in Europe and third-party maintenance support.
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