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A First Glimpse Of Dubai’s Air Taxis Flying Past Local Landmarks

The city’s first vertiport will be close to Dubai International Airport and connected to the Emirates Metro Station.

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2 years ago

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a first glimpse of dubai's air taxis flying past local landmarks
Dubai Media Office

Once the preserve of science fiction movies, air taxis are being tested in cities worldwide, with Dubai’s own service set to take to the skies by 2026. With the taxis becoming a realistic prospect for the tech-focused city, the Government of Dubai Media Office has just released several artist impressions of the aircraft in action.

The photo-realistic depictions give a flavor of what tourists and locals will see as they queue at one of Dubai’s four vertiports before speeding between Downtown Dubai near the Burj Khalifa to Dubai Marina, the International Airport, and Palm Jumeirah.

A Look At Dubai’s First Vertiport

The first vertiport will be located near the Dubai International Airport, with the roof acting as a terminal for the aerial passenger vehicles. Tourists and business fliers will be able to access the vertiport using an air-conditioned bridge connecting the Emirates Metro Station.

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Comprising two levels of car parking, the vertiport is revealed as having a futuristic design with accommodation for four taxi stands and two landing areas. As well as a waiting area for passengers, the transport hub will have plenty of electric charging stations and integrate seamlessly with the rest of Dubai’s planned next-generation infrastructure.

The Aircraft

Unveiled at the World Government Summit, the sky taxis are all-electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles capable of 300 kmph. The craft can whisk four passengers across the city and boast an impressive range of 241 km.

The Red Tape

The RTA is working closely with Dubai Air Navigation Services and the Civil (and General) Aviation Authority to ensure high standards and safety levels for the planned air taxis service.

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According to Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, the project consists of two main stages:

“The operation is composed of crucial elements. They include a detailed negotiation with a multitude of companies active in this field, signing of commercial agreements [and the] development of the necessary infrastructure and the highly anticipated roll-out of the service.

“The second stage involves identifying a potential partner for investing in the infrastructure needed to introduce autonomous aerial taxis to Dubai’s skies. At present, commercial negotiations are in progress with the most promising and specialized investors globally in the realm of air mobility to construct the requisite infrastructure,” says Mattar Al Tayer.

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UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.

Published

2 weeks ago

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December 17, 2024

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uae prepares to launch two satellites thuraya-2 and mbz-sat

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.

The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.

Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.

Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.

Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.

Also Read: IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth

The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.

The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.

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