The Dubai flying taxi service is set to change airport travel soon. Work on Dubai International Vertiport (DXV), the first vertiport near Dubai International Airport (DXB), is progressing on schedule and will be ready by the first quarter of 2026, according to Joby Aviation’s UAE General Manager, Anthony El-Khoury.
Once operational, the vertiport will allow passengers to reach popular destinations like Madinat Jumeirah or Burj Al Arab in just eight minutes. This will replace the usual 45-minute car journey during busy hours, making travel faster and easier for visitors and residents alike.
Vertiports are designated areas for the take-off and landing of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is working with Skyports and Joby Aviation to build a network of such sites across the city.
El-Khoury said the company also plans to use existing helipads at hotels, malls, and hospitals to expand the Dubai flying taxi service quickly. This approach will make the service accessible without the need for large new infrastructure investments.
More than 30 helipads across Dubai could serve both helicopters and eVTOLs. Once complete, these connections will allow passengers to travel directly from the airport to key city spots in just a few minutes.
Dubai’s first vertiport is part of the city’s larger plan to build a futuristic, sustainable transport system that supports innovation and smart mobility.
