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eVTOL X2 Flying Car Debuted At GITEX GLOBAL 2022
Electric flying cars have been tried before, but the 90 minute eVTOL X2 test flight conducted by the Dubai International Chamber proves that the concept can work.
GITEX Global 2022 has been the scene of the first viable flight of an electric car. The eVTOL (electronic Vertical Takeoff and Landing) X2, created by Chinese EV company Xpeng, launched from Skydive Dubai on a successful 90-minute test flight, under the watchful eyes of the Dubai International Chamber.

The eVTOL X2 flying car is impressive not just for its aeronautical capabilities, but also because it produces zero carbon dioxide emissions. The vehicle is designed for cruising at 130 km per hour at low altitudes, with a typical flight time of 35 minutes, and skid-style landing gear that’s perfect for touching down on the rooftops of high buildings — perfect for escaping those annoying traffic queues!

The Emirates News Agency noted that the International Chamber had made great efforts to attract leading international companies to Dubai. The country is now a leader in future technology and innovation and a hub for multinational companies looking to launch high-tech products to global markets.
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The test flight event was further supported by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, and the Dubai World Trade Center Authority.
As for the car itself, the futuristic two-seater eVTOL X2 is noteworthy for its intelligent flight control system and ability to fly autonomously. The vehicle is the latest generation of tech developed by XPENG AEROHT. It features 8 propellers with an electric motor powering each one, as well as a carbon fiber shell which helps to keep weight to an impressive 360kg.
News
NEOPAY Wants To Follow Merchants Across Channels And Borders
A controlling 65% stake in noon payments would give NEOPAY access to marketplace sellers, online merchants and the payment flows they generate.
It’s been a long time since checkouts were single defined places. A merchant might take payments at a physical register, on its own website and through an online marketplace, sometimes in more than one country. NEOPAY wants to follow those transactions wherever they happen.
The UAE payments company has entered into an agreement to acquire a 65% controlling stake in noon payments. NEOPAY already runs the acquiring infrastructure that lets merchants accept card payments, along with omnichannel acceptance and a merchant services platform. This new deal would add noon payments’ embedded payments platform, e-commerce gateway and merchant network across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. That would considerably expand both NEOPAY’s digital commerce capabilities and its regional reach.
For merchants, the attraction is a single provider for online and in-store payments, plus faster settlements, data and analytics, and value-added financial services.
“Payments should be simple, reliable, and built for the markets they serve,” said Faraz Khalid, CEO of noon. His counterpart at NEOPAY, Vibhor Mundhada, added: “We have built a strong payments business in the UAE, and our ambition is now to take that capability across the region”. The acquisition, Mundhada added, would “expand our footprint into Saudi Arabia and Egypt” while reinforcing NEOPAY’s position at home.
Also Read: In Kuwait, Your Surgeon Might Be Operating From Another Country
NEOPAY is also keen to point out potential payment volume increases. The company says noon payments’ integrations with marketplace sellers and online merchants create high transaction density in some of the region’s fastest-growing digital commerce segments. It also believes control of the business would give it access to those merchant relationships and payment flows, and speed up the rollout of alternative payment methods and installment options.
The combined roadmap targets faster merchant onboarding, better payment performance, tighter fraud controls and embedded financial services. The deal could also strengthen cross-border payments and settlement along key regional commerce corridors.
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