Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Archer Aviation have revealed plans to establish the United Arab Emirates’ first hospital-based vertiport, providing eVTOL aircraft access to the facility.
The planned vertiport aims to enable passengers to travel to and from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in minutes, significantly reducing travel times compared to ground transportation. The development falls under the General Civil Aviation Authority’s (GCAA) new hybrid conversion framework, allowing simultaneous operation of conventional helicopters and eVTOL aircraft on the same infrastructure.
This project follows Archer’s recent hybrid vertiport approval at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal, furthering its plans for an advanced air mobility network across the capital.
The partnership will explore both non-emergency passenger use cases and time-critical organ transport. Operations would utilize Archer’s Midnight electric aircraft, which is designed to carry up to four passengers with reduced noise and emissions compared to traditional helicopters. The aircraft’s planned passenger-carrying cabin configuration will be used for both purposes.
Archer plans to support Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in upgrading its existing helipad to accommodate both traditional helicopter and eVTOL aircraft operations.
Bryan Bernhard, Chief Growth & Infrastructure Officer at Archer, said, “This partnership showcases the breadth of Archer’s network vision – connecting not just places, but pillars of life in Abu Dhabi. Following our first hybrid vertiport approval at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal earlier this year, this next location demonstrates how Archer and the GCAA are working together to unlock a city-wide ecosystem for advanced air mobility.”
Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, added, “We are excited about the partnership with Archer to advance access to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s patient-centered care. This new mode of emission-free transport aligns with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s commitment to sustainability, gives additional options to many patients travelling to our hospital for care, and provides our thriving organ transplant program with fast logistics.”
The new vertiport is expected to enhance access for patients and visitors to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a key regional destination for medical tourism.
