Joby Aviation (JOBY) gets closer to commercial launch in Dubai
Joby Aviation (JOBY) announced this week three planned vertiports that will be added to Dubai's electric air taxi network as it nears the launch of its commercial service in the city and emirate next year.
Vertiports are the hubs for the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts that Joby is building. They will be constructed by Skyports Infrastructure.
Joby said the three sites for its vertiports include the American University of Dubai, Atlantis the Royal and the Dubai Mall.
The California-based company said the locations provide "connections to some of Dubai's most high-profile destinations" with high traffic. A fourth vertiport is being built at Dubai International Airport, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
It's unclear when the three other vertiports are expected to be completed.
Joby signed an agreement with Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) in 2024 that gives it exclusive rights to operate air taxis in Dubai for six years.
The company noted that the American University location for its vertiport will serve both the residential area of Dubai Marina, as well as its entertainment hub. It is also located near Dubai Internet City's tech and corporate districts.
Atlantis the Royal is a global landmark resort near Palm Jumeirah, while Dubai Mall is the world's largest shopping and entertainment destination, having attracted nearly 111 million visitors in 2024.
As Joby gets its infrastructure in place for its commercial VTOL service in Dubai, the company said that it recently became the first air taxi company to complete a point-to-point flight in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The flight, which occurred on November 9 but was just revealed on Monday, saw Joby land its aircraft at Al Maktoum International Airport following a 17-minute piloted flight from its test facility in Margham.
"The successful completion by Joby Aviation of the first air taxi flight between two distinct locations underscores the success of RTA’s operational framework for developing Dubai’s aerial mobility ecosystem," His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s RTA, said in a statement.
"This milestone paves the way for a new phase of integration among smart mobility systems across the emirate," he added.
JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby, said that by working with the RTA, government agencies and its infrastructure partners in Dubai, the company has "been able to streamline development of the world’s first air taxi service and are closer than ever to making urban air transport an everyday reality for residents and visitors across the UAE.”
Joby's stock if up 71.3% for the year.