News

ALJ & Joby Aviation To Bring Electric Air Taxis To Saudi Arabia

The partnership will explore introducing up to 200 electric aircraft to the Kingdom, revolutionizing urban mobility, and supporting Vision 2030 goals.

Published

1 year ago

June 10, 2025

Nour Nasir

Joby Aviation

Abdul Latif Jameel, a renowned 80-year-old multi-sector business group, and Joby Aviation, a leader in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly introduce and distribute electric air taxis in Saudi Arabia. The partnership aligns closely with the renewed economic collaboration between the U.S. and the KSA, emphasizing shared innovation and sustainable transportation.

The initial phase of the project could see the delivery of up to 200 Joby electric aircraft and related services, with a value of approximately $1 billion, over the coming years. The long-term vision extends beyond Saudi Arabia, with both companies recognizing broader potential for regional expansion across the Middle East.

This agreement builds upon an existing relationship, as the Jameel family previously invested in Joby’s Series C funding round, which was led by Toyota Motor Corporation in 2020. The collaboration reflects both companies’ mutual commitment to sustainable, efficient, and affordable air travel, as well as enhancing passenger experiences, and significantly reducing environmental impact.

Joby Aviation’s electric air taxi, capable of transporting four passengers at speeds up to 200 mph, operates with zero emissions and substantially less noise than traditional helicopters. The aircraft is expected to commence commercial passenger operations in Dubai in 2026.

JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, highlighted the significance of the partnership: “This collaboration is about bringing America’s leadership in electric air mobility to the world. Together with Abdul Latif Jameel, we’re not just imagining a cleaner, safer, more efficient future — we’re building it. And there is no better partner to help unlock the extraordinary opportunity for air travel in the region”.

Also Read: Meet The AltoVolo Sigma: A 1,608HP Personal eVTOL Jet

Hassan Jameel, Vice Chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel, emphasized Saudi Arabia’s strategic shift towards modern mobility solutions: “Saudi Arabia is transitioning toward a new era of mobility — on-demand, shared, connected, and sustainable. eVTOL is an exciting and important component of this transformation. We look forward to collaborating with Joby to advance the Kingdom’s mobility sector”.

In addition to distribution and sales collaborations, the partnership will also explore launching local air taxi services, developing essential maintenance and repair infrastructure (MRO), and establishing pilot training facilities. These initiatives directly support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by fostering economic growth, innovation, and employment opportunities for Saudi nationals.

News

Abu Dhabi’s Robot Kitchen Is Serving Up Biryani, Not Burgers

Circus SE wants to put a tiny automated factory inside the buildings where Gulf residents live and work, bypassing part of last-mile delivery.

Published

6 days ago

October 20, 2026

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi's robot kitchen is serving up biryani not burgers

Circus SE

The most telling thing about a new autonomous kitchen now running in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Square is what it won’t cook:

“We don’t do fast food,” says Nikolas Bullwinkel, Founder and CEO of Circus SE. “We’ve actively decided not to build a machine that can only do burgers”.

Instead, the CA-1 system is built around pot-based cooking: curries, pastas, soups and rice dishes. After experimenting with highly personalized recipes, Circus deliberately leaned back toward recognizable food. “We’re going with a chicken biryani because you know it,” Bullwinkel says of the AED 40 dish.

circus se ca-1 robot system

The Germany-based robotics and food technology company operates across eight countries, and Abu Dhabi is its first deployment outside Europe. More locations are expected there and in Dubai.

In Germany, its units can be placed in supermarkets, gas stations, airports and hospitals. In the Gulf, Bullwinkel wants them inside residential and office buildings, replacing some of the complexity of last-mile delivery. “We’re basically bringing a very tiny factory a few square meters into your building,” he says. Catering company Royal Prestige supplies the ingredients and knowledge of local tastes.

The CA-1 manages up to 36 refrigerated ingredient silos alongside automated induction cooking, robotic plating and a self-cleaning dishwasher. Two robotic arms move ingredients through the system with minimal human intervention. It can produce up to 120 hot meals an hour, and a meal such as rice and curry can take around three to four minutes.

Also Read: Ooredoo Qatar’s 5G+ Network Is Built For Machines As Much As People

Five cameras and multiple sensors monitor heat, temperature and consistency, an attempt to approximate what a chef perceives. “You can hear something gets burned, you can smell it, you can see it at some point,” Bullwinkel says. CircusOS, the company’s operating system, adjusts recipes in real time.

You might think of the platform as a threat to kitchen staff, but Bullwinkel frames Circus as a way for chefs to develop recipes and distribute them at scale. With that being said, rising labor costs and shortages are also part of his case for automation.