Abu Dhabi has taken a major step towards futuristic transport by successfully completing the first test flight of a flying taxi at Al Bateen’s Executive Airport. The flight was organized in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) by the US-based Archer Aviation, which is a milestone before the planned commercial launch of air taxi services in early 2026.According to Omran Malec, head of autonomous dynamics and robotics in Adio, the test flight is the first in a series of structured evaluation aimed at launching not only a flying taxi service, but also a full aviation ecosystem.Talking to the local news outlet Khaleej Times, Omran Malec said, “We do not just test to test, but do not test for commercialization. We are not just starting an air taxi service, we are building a ecosystem around us, from pilot training to MRO, to MRO, to construct with a convenience with a convenience, with a convenience in the ARO.” The project involves cooperation to develop special courses and small diplomas with universities to form a skilled workforce for the area.
Tests under UAE Terms
The test phase will continue through the summer months to evaluate how the aircraft performs under the warm and dusty climate of Abu Dhabi. “We will then bring this aircraft to flying to the city and go to the commercial phase in the beginning of 2026,” Malec said. Archer Aviation’s UAE Manager Dr. Talib Alhinai said that the aircraft used in this phase was not pilot, as the goal is to test the readiness of the environment.“It was a vertical takeoff and landing flight. Our early flight testing operations in UAE are especially focused on evaluating the performance of the aircraft in high temperatures, humidity and dust,” he said.
Roadmap for commercial launch and manufacturing
Once the test is completed, Archer planned to start a small fleet of aerial taxi in Abu Dhabi. Major priorities for launch include:
- Safe commercial operations
- Fully developed vertiuses
- Aircraft integration
“All this is a priority for us to launch in Abu Dhabi,” said Malec. Looking forward, the construction of the aircraft is scheduled to begin in Al Ann in 2027, with future exports, other interested countries have been planned in the entire region.
A new way of daily travel
Unlike the belief that the flying taxi would be exclusive to luxury passengers, Malec said that pricing in Abu Dhabi would be designed to be possible for the general public. “As we introduce more vertis and aircraft, this price will be on a scale below so that it can be used on a daily basis,” he said. The announcement occurred immediately after a uniform successful test flight by Jobi Aviation in Dubai, showing strong speed in the United Arab Emirates to lead urban air mobility in the region.
Dubai’s first flying taxi test flight
This week, Dubai marked a major milestone in urban dynamics, with the first test flight of a flying taxi developed by Job Aviation. The test was conducted in Jobi testing facility at Dubai Jetman Helipad in Margham, located at Dubai -Al -An Road. Dubai is now preparing for a commercial rollout until the first half of 2026, which aims to provide premium air mobility service to residents and visitors.The UAE is moving forward in futuristic transportation, in which both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are conducting test flights for flying taxis. These milestones reflect the country’s commitment to redefine urban mobility, with significant investment in advanced technologies. Embracing innovative transport solutions, UAE is working to become one of the most living cities in the world, focusing on convenience, stability and efficiency for residents and visitors.
