Joby, Skyports Infrastructure and Dubai’s RTA Sign Exclusive Agreements to Launch Air Taxi Services & Vertiports in Dubai by 2026

(Santa Cruz, California and Dubai, UAE) Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle developer Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY), vertiport infrastructure developer Skyports Infrastructure and Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) on Sunday, February 11th, announced the signing of tripartite definitive agreements to launch passenger-carrying air taxi services in Dubai by early 2026.

Photo of Joby’s electric air taxi on display at the World Governments Summit in Dubai courtesy of Joby Aviation.

The parties will assume the following responsibilities, according to a press release from Skyports:

• Joby will manufacture, certify, and operate eVTOL air taxis in the Emirate
• RTA, as Dubai’s transport authority, will oversee and regulate AAM services
• Skyports will design, construct, own and operate vertiports to provide critical take-off and landing infrastructure at key locations across the Emirate

As part of the agreement, which was signed at the World Governments Summit in Dubai in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, according to a press release from Joby, Joby – which is targeting initial operations in 2025 – has been provided with the exclusive right to operate air taxis in Dubai for six years, with support from Dubai’s RTA for the entry and maturing of service operations in Dubai.

“It is an honor to partner with the government of Dubai to demonstrate the value of sustainable air travel to the world,” said Joby Aviation’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer JoeBen Bevirt. “Today’s landmark agreement delivers on all three ingredients required to successfully launch an air taxi service – a definitive path to operations, well-placed infrastructure supported by dedicated partners, and an aircraft with the capacity and range to deliver meaningful journeys.”

Additionally, the agreement provides Skyports Infrastructure with exclusive rights to build and operate vertiports in Dubai, according to Skyports’ press relase.

Per Skyports, the February 11th agreement marks the first time that a transport authority, vertiport operator, aircraft manufacturer and relevant regulatory bodies have partnered to enable AAM, and It should effectively enable Dubai become the first location with a commercial, city-wide electric air taxi service.

Skyports’ press release explains that the initial advanced air mobility (AAM) network in Dubai will include four vertiports located by Dubai International Airport (IATA: DXB, ICAO: OMDB), Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown and Dubai Marina.

“Flights between Skyports’ vertiports will reduce journey times significantly, with a typical journey from DXB to Palm Jumeirah expected to take 10 minutes by air taxi compared with 45 minutes by car,” reads Skyports’ press release.

“Today marks a significant step towards the launch of commercial air taxi services in Dubai,” said Duncan Walker, Skyports’ founder and chief executive officer. “The industry has never been closer to making it a reality.”

According to Joby’s press release, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors for RTA, commented on the agreement: “The air taxi service is part of RTA’s efforts to embrace future transportation technologies and offers a novel and efficient mobility option for Dubai’s residents and visitors, enabling fast, safe, and convenient travel to key city spots.