Dubai Unveils World's First Commercial Vertiport for Air Taxis

Dubai Opens World's First Commercial Vertiport for Air Taxis by 2026

The facility, built at Dubai International Airport, is now fully operational and ready to accommodate electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, reports our correspondent, citing Naked Science.

The vertiport is expected to become a cornerstone of the city's emerging urban transport network.

Skyports Infrastructure will oversee the development and management of the site, while U.S.-based Joby Aviation—granted exclusive operating rights in Dubai for six years—will handle passenger services. Equipped with Joby's proprietary GEACS fast-charging system, the vertiport can simultaneously serve not only air taxis but also conventional helicopters, operating under a hybrid model approved by aviation authorities.

Joby has already conducted crewed test flights in the region and is advancing the certification process for its aircraft. Meanwhile, infrastructure expansion extends beyond the airport, with new vertiports planned for Dubai Marina, near the Dubai Mall, and on Palm Jumeirah, creating a comprehensive intra-city air mobility network.

Commercial flights are slated to begin by late 2026. If the project stays on schedule, Dubai will become the first global metropolis to integrate air taxis into its daily urban transport system. The emirate's crown prince has already hailed the initiative as a pivotal step toward the future of transportation.