XPENG AEROHT, Asia’s largest flying car and eVTOL company, was awarded a manned aircraft special flight permit for its modular flying car, Land Aircraft Carrier, by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Ras Al Khaimah.
The achievement officially begins XPENG AEROHT’s manned flight tests across the UAE and is the first permit of its kind obtained by a Chinese flying car company overseas, marking a crucial milestone in the globalization of China’s eVTOL technology.
RAK Transport Authority (RAKTA) and XPENG AEROHT also signed an agreement to collaborate on flight certification and scenario applications.
Under this partnership, to explore the Land Aircraft Carrier’s use in government transportation, tourism, emergency rescue, XPENG AEROHT will leverage the UAE’s forward-looking policies and geographic advantages. This aims to create demonstration projects enhancing Ras Al Khaimah’s global influence in future mobility.
These awards follow successful flight demonstrations of the Land Aircraft Carrier. At Jazirah Aviation Club in Ras Al Khaimah, this self-developed eVTOL, operated by the test pilot, showcased stable performance with maneuvers including hovering, 360-degree rotations, and coordinated turns.
The Land Aircraft Carrier has also already successfully passed on-site inspections by the GCAA of the UAE and the Ras Al Khaimah Civil Aviation Authority.
The Land Aircraft Carrier replaces traditional, complex mechanical instrument panels with a fully integrated smart display system, offering a more simplified and intuitive system.
The aircraft supports both manual and automatic flight modes, and in autonomous operation it is equipped with intelligent route planning, auto-pilot navigation, one-touch takeoff and return, 3D composite vision, AI-driven perception alerts, and landing visual tools.
The Land Aircraft Carrier is also equipped with an advanced aerial autopilot system, giving pilots priority override capability via the joystick during autonomous flight. Its intelligent flight control system, whether operated manually or automatically, continuously monitors and safeguards the aircraft’s attitude. This ensures stable and safe operation within predefined parameters.
The permit itself was presented to Mr. Zhao Deli, Founder of XPENG AEROHT, by Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK Civil Aviation Department; His Excellency Eng. Esmaeel Al Blooshi, Director General of RAKTA; and Mr. Omar bin Ghalib, Deputy Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority.
Zhao Deli, Founder of XPENG AEROHT, stated, “This cooperation cannot be achieved without the expertise of General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE and RAK Civil Aviation Department. We also highly appreciate the great support from the Ras Al Khaimah government, the Chinese Embassy and Chinese Consulate General in Dubai. We believe an open, innovative environment in the UAE will provide an ideal platform for flying car technology validation.”
H.E. Eng. Esmaeel Hasan AlBlooshi, Director General of RAKTA, commented, “The success of this first demonstration represents a new achievement that enhances Ras Al Khaimah’s position as a hub for cutting-edge global innovations. Our collaboration with XPENG AEROHT reflects an innovative and strategic partnership with the Chinese side, aligned with Ras Al Khaimah’s vision to support pioneering projects based on technology and knowledge.”
The UAE has actively promoted low-altitude economy policies to attract global participation in its Smart City initiatives. This means XPENG AEROHT may prioritize the Middle East as its first overseas market.
XPENG AEROHT aims to advance personal mobility and flying experience with its flying car technology. The company has strong support from the Chinese Embassy in the UAE, Chinese Consulate General in Dubai, the UAE authorities, and the Ras Al Khaimah government, so is dedicated to contributing to the bilateral technological cooperation between the UAE and China.
