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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.
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.
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.
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.
News
NASA Forms New Partnership With Saudi Space Agency
The pair will collaborate on the Center for Space Futures, advancing space tech by bringing together public and private stakeholders.
Saudi Arabia’s space industry is on the brink of substantial expansion after generating $400 million in revenue in 2022, according to a report by the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission.
Now, in a new venture with NASA, plans for a “Center for Space Futures” are set to further drive the Kingdom’s aspirations of becoming a leading player in space exploration and technology.
Capturing moments from the joint delegation visit with leaders from the Saudi and American Space Agencies @NASA to @PSU_RUH, along with scenes showcasing the audience's engagement. pic.twitter.com/oB1cFTiRNl
— وكالة الفضاء السعودية (@saudispace) May 14, 2024
The partnership between NASA and Saudi Arabia goes beyond economic advantages. The pair have already cooperated on preliminary work for the Artemis II lunar mission, which is slated for a September 2025 launch and aims to land astronauts near the moon’s South Pole.
Also Read: Plans Underway For Massive Middle East Autonomous Freight Network
During a visit to the capital, Riyadh, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized in a TV interview the broader objectives of the collaboration, which encompass “returning to the moon and then [to] Mars” while utilizing space exploration to glean important insights into climate change. The NASA spokesman also reiterated the space agency’s dedication to collaborating with Saudi Arabia on other future ventures.
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