Dubai is all set to leap into the future of urban public transportation, with the launch dates of the flying taxis and vertiports being revealed by Sheikh Mohammed, UAE Vice President.
The plans for flying taxis and vertiports in Dubai have been revealed. The UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and the Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has approved the designs of Dubai’s next ambitious project. Vertiports refers to the air taxi stations that will be developed strategically in the country to enhance aerial connectivity. RTA will develop these. With the operations set to commence by 2026, Dubai aims to be the world’s first city with a fully developed network of vertiports.
Flying Taxis and Vertiports in Dubai
Aerial taxis will link Dubai’s four main areas, including the Burj Khalifa area in Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina, and the Dubai International Airport, as part of the emirate’s new sustainable urban mobility solutions initiative.
These can hold a pilot and up to 4 people. These taxis have a peak speed of about 300 km/h and a maximum range of 241 km. Manufacturers and operators will choose installation locations for vertiports and test their technology during the first step.
Infrastructure for that would include deciding on locations and marked areas for takeoff and landing, passenger waiting areas, security procedures, and electric charging stations. The goal is to have a unified system that can support EVs and other sustainable electric vehicles. Finding the right financiers, engineers, and architects will be the next stage in preparing the infrastructure for the air mobility industry.
At the RTA booth at the World Government Summit 2023, the vertiport models were revealed. The first vertiport will actually be situated close to Dubai International Airport (DXB), one of the busiest airports in the globe. Two tiers of parking will be available for vehicles, and a rooftop aerial taxi terminal will be connected to the Emirates metro station by an air-conditioned bridge. There will be two landing platforms and four stands to handle taxis. Nearer to the start, more information will be made public.
