Construction of first vertiport begins in Dubai

The first air taxi station, or vertiport, in Dubai has begun construction and will be erected near Dubai International Airport, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, said.

‘We have started construction of Dubai’s first air taxi vertiport near Dubai International Airport,’ Sheikh Hamdan wrote in X. He said the 3,100 square metre facility will be able to handle 42,000 landings and 170,000 passengers a year.

The air taxis are scheduled to launch in 2026, with the first four vertiports to be built in the Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah neighbourhoods. They will be designed in co-operation with Skyports.

The stations will include dedicated runway areas, electric charging stations, dedicated passenger areas and a security zone. Travel time from Dubai International Airport to Palm Jumeirah Island will be reduced from 45 minutes to 10-12 minutes thanks to air taxis.

As previously reported, US-based aerial electric vehicle manufacturer Archer, in co-operation with aviation services operator Falcon Aviation, will begin construction of the first vertical airports (vertiports) in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Archer’s Midnight air taxi, a manned, four-seat electric aeroplane designed for fast flights with minimal recharging time, will operate between the vertiports in the two cities.

The first ports will be built at the Falcon Heliport at Atlantis the Palm in Dubai and the Marina Mall heliport at the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. The innovation will reduce 60-90 minute car journeys to 10-30 minute electric air taxi flights.

The flights will be safe, low-noise and cost competitive with ground transport. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025, well in advance of the launch of flying taxis.

Source: Khaleej Times