Abu Dhabi is striving to be the first city globally to introduce flying taxis, having finalized an agreement to commence operations by the end of 2025.
In partnership with the US company Archer Aviation, a fleet of electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft will be produced in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
If the initiative proves successful, Archer's Midnight aircraft will be capable of carrying up to four passengers each, facilitating travel between multiple 'vertiports' throughout Abu Dhabi and reducing travel times by as much as 80 percent.
“Archer’s goal is to transform urban travel, replacing 60-90 minute commutes by car with 10-20 minute flights that are safe, sustainable, low-noise, and cost-competitive with ground transportation,” a spokesperson for Archer told The Independent.
“Midnight has similar levels of safety to commercial airliners, while also being 100-times quieter than a helicopter at cruising altitudes.”
Archer's Midnight eVTOL will transport passengers between vertiports across Abu Dhabi (Archer Aviation). The idea of eVTOL vehicles as a viable transportation option gained traction in 2016, when Uber introduced it during its Elevate conference.
The well-known ride-hailing service envisioned a future where users could summon flying taxis just as easily as they request car rides. Since then, over 300 eVTOL startups have emerged, collectively securing nearly $10 billion in funding.
However, a recent report from research firm IDTechEx suggests that fewer than 5 percent of these companies are likely to survive, with Archer Aviation recognized as one of the top three most valuable enterprises in the sector.
“First mover advantage for any of these players is vital, as more benefits will come next – income from early commercial flights will improve finances and attract additional funding,” the report stated.
Archer aims to gain a competitive advantage by initiating its first commercial operations in Abu Dhabi, providing transportation for customers between key locations. The Midnight eVTOL developed by Archer is capable of transporting passengers at speeds reaching 240 kph (150 mph), taking advantage of the city's distinctive landscape to cover significant portions of the route over water.
While Archer has established partnerships in the United States, India, South Korea, and Japan, its most imminent launch is in the UAE, largely due to the collaborative efforts supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.
The partnership agreement with Archer encompasses several entities, including Abu Dhabi Airports, Etihad Aviation Training, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Global Air Navigation Services, Global Aerospace Logistics, and the Integrated Transport Centre.
“The comprehensive support from our partners, combined with Abu Dhabi’s forward-thinking approach to next-gen transportation, creates an ideal environment for launching Midnight,” the Archer spokesperson said.
The partnership between commercial and governmental organizations allows for the simultaneous resolution of both operational and regulatory challenges.
“We are committed to launching electric air taxis safely in the UAE... [The] consortium announcement showcases the importance of collaboration across the country’s preeminent aviation entities in order to host Archer’s Midnight in the region next year,” said His Excellency Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, who serves as the Director General of the GCAA.
Regulatory challenges continue to be the primary barrier to the introduction of eVTOL taxi services in many regions, with China emerging as a potential competitor to the UAE in launching the first commercial operation globally.
Earlier this year, the local company AutoFlight successfully conducted an inter-city flight in Guangdong Province, South China, although regular passenger services are not anticipated to commence until 2026.
Alessandro Borgogna, an aerospace engineer at the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, indicated that plans are already underway for the establishment of up to five eVTOL vertiports in Abu Dhabi by this time next year.
Borgogna, who played a key role in the launch of Abu Dhabi’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) hub, emphasized that Archer’s eVTOLs are crucial for significantly transforming transportation across land, sea, and air in the capital of the UAE.
“People are super excited to use eVTOLs,” he told The Independent. “They’ll cut journey times, while also being safer, cleaner and less noisy than helicopters.”