Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and Skyports Infrastructure have reached technical completion of a facility at Dubai International Airport thought to be the world’s first commercial vertiport.
The facility is now prepared to handle electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, serving as the primary hub for an upcoming aerial network. To mark the milestone, a demonstration was provided to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which included a simulation of the passenger experience and a technical overview of electric air taxi operations.
The vertiport spans four floors with a 3,100m² footprint, integrating a passenger terminal and flight operations center. It features two dedicated take-off and landing areas and is equipped with the Global Electric Aviation Charging System, developed by Joby Aviation. This ultra-fast charging technology is essential for maintaining the high-frequency schedules required to make air taxi services accessible. Designed for high-capacity use, the infrastructure can support up to 170,000 passengers and 42,000 aircraft movements annually. It also offers intermodal connectivity through a direct link to the Emirates Metro Station and a multistorey car park.
Operations will utilize a hybrid regulatory framework developed with the General Civil Aviation Authority to manage both eVTOL and conventional helicopter traffic. The passenger journey is designed for rapid turnaround through digital-first booking, automated check-in, and efficient boarding flows.
This site is the first of four planned nodes. Construction is currently underway at Dubai Marina, with further sites at Dubai Mall and Palm Jumeirah scheduled to begin in the coming months. Joby Aviation is simultaneously progressing through flight-testing, having completed piloted trials in Margham and at Al Maktoum International Airport in 2025.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, commented, “The delivery of the Air Taxi Station by Skyports Infrastructure near Dubai International Airport reflects the qualitative progress made by RTA in advancing a smart and sustainable mobility ecosystem, built on the integration of various transport modes and aligned with global transformations in urban mobility.
“This step paves the way for expanding the development of Air Taxi vertiports across the emirate, ensuring the delivery of advanced air mobility services to residents and visitors, while enhancing connectivity between key areas, business centres, and tourist destinations.”
Duncan Walker, CEO, Skyports Infrastructure said, “With the world’s first commercial vertiport now being in a technical position to take eVTOL flights, we are seeing aviation history in the making. After years of planning and in depth design, this new class of infrastructure brings together the latest technologies and innovations that will change how people move around their cities.”
Anthony El-Khoury, General Manager, UAE, Joby Aviation, added, “The completion of this vertiport by our partners at Skyports Infrastructure marks a major milestone in bringing air taxi service to Dubai. Together with the RTA, we’re proud to celebrate this important step and the progress it represents toward launching operations. We look forward to beginning commercial flights and to delivering fast, quiet, and sustainable air travel for Dubai’s residents and visitors.”
