In the first phase, three other stations will be installed in strategic locations such as the city center, the marina and Palm Jumeirah. A strategic choice given that it is in these four areas that the city’s four main hotels are located.
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The objective? Provide a functional intra-urban air transport network from 2026. If the deadlines are met, this will be a world first in urban transport. One more innovation in this region, like its Saudi neighbor, which is increasingly becoming an epicenter of new urban developments.
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More than 300 km/h
These “vertiports”, specially designed for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, promise “fast, connected and fluid” mobility. The devices, developed in partnership with JOBY Aviation and Skyports Infrastructure, will have a top speed of 320 km/h. They will connect the international airport to Palm Jumeirah in just 10 minutes, compared to 45 minutes by car. All, we promise, at competitive prices.
But if speed and efficiency can appeal, these flying taxis will still have to demonstrate their viability on a large scale. Questions persist, particularly noise pollution. “With a capacity of four passengers plus a pilot, the air taxi generates much less noise than traditional helicopters.responds the official news agency of the United Arab Emirates.
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RTA, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, will be responsible for the governance and integration of this new mode of transport with other existing public transport systems.
In any case, Dubai does not intend to limit this project to its territory. Ultimately, these air taxis could connect the city to Abu Dhabi, around 150 kilometers away. Note that the total amount invested in infrastructure to develop the project is not specified. But whatever the cost, the United Arab Emirates intend to get ahead of Paris, Seoul and even Los Angeles. Metropolises that have been aiming for some time to integrate flying taxis into their urban landscape.
