Dubai commuters could soon soar above the city’s notorious traffic, following the successful test flight of a fully-electric air taxi by U.S.-based Joby Aviation.

The flight, conducted this week at a remote desert site southeast of downtown Dubai, marks a significant milestone in the emirate’s plan to integrate airborne transport into its public mobility network by 2026.

In a demonstration attended by government officials, transport executives, and company representatives, Joby’s experimental aircraft executed a vertical takeoff, flew several miles, and returned for a vertical landing—mimicking a typical aerial taxi route.

“We want to change the way people commute,” said Anthony Khoury, Joby’s UAE General Manager. “A trip from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah could take just 12 minutes by air, compared to 45 minutes by car.”

The Joby Aerial Taxi, an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, is capable of flying up to 160 kilometres at speeds of 320 km/h. The aircraft is fully electric and produces zero operating emissions, positioning it as a quieter, more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional transport. “It will be flying in the city, next to residential areas, and hopefully people will barely notice it,” Khoury added.

Although the company ultimately aims to make air taxis widely accessible, it acknowledges that initial pricing may cater to higher-income travelers due to the premium nature of the technology in its early stages.

In early 2024, Joby signed an exclusive six-year contract with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority to operate aerial taxi services in the city. Commercial operations are scheduled to begin in 2026 with four initial vertiports at DXB Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, and Dubai Marina.

“This is a rare leap in aviation,” said Didier Papadopoulos, Joby’s President of Original Equipment Manufacturing. “Every once in a while, you have this propulsive move into the future—this is one of them.”