Dubai International Unveils 'Flight to Your Flight' Vertiport Plan

Skyports and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority are aiming for development of a “network of vertiports for air taxi services” beginning in 2026.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 03:23 PM ET

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A visualization of Skyports’ and Foster + Partners’ vertiport concept at Dubai International Airport. [Courtesy: Foster + Partners]

Key Takeaways:

Dubai's ruler has approved a concept for a vertiport terminal at Dubai International Airport, designed by Foster + Partners and Skyports, to launch an air taxi service by 2026.
This vertiport aims to provide seamless, sustainable air travel, connecting passengers directly to their flight terminals and integrating with the city's transport networks.
The Dubai project is part of a global trend in advanced air mobility, with other regions like India and U.S. cities (e.g., Chicago, New York City) also actively developing eVTOL air taxi services and supporting vertiport infrastructure, with some aiming for operations as early as 2025.

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and the prime minister, vice president, and minister of defense of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has a penchant for ambitious projects. Under his lead, the UAE in 2020 became the first Arab nation to reach Mars, and in December it set out to reach the moon.

Now, the former crown prince of Dubai has signed off on a project to transform the city’s aviation hub.