Advanced Air Mobility Modern Flying News

Joby Seeks Middle East’s First Air Taxi Operator Certification

The manufacturer earlier this year announced plans to fly in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as soon as 2026.

Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 12:43 PM ET

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Joby Aviation founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt (left) presents a letter of intent to Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director general of the United Arab Emirates’ aviation regulator, at the International Civil Aviation Organization’s inaugural Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Summit in Montreal. [Courtesy: Joby Aviation]

Key Takeaways:

Joby Aviation has initiated the certification process with the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to become the Middle East's first certified air taxi operator.
This move supports Joby's existing agreements to launch electric air taxi services in major UAE cities (Dubai, Abu Dhabi) and Saudi Arabia as early as 2026.
The Middle East is a key region attracting eVTOL manufacturers due to significant government support, with Joby's efforts aiming to establish one of the world's first electric air taxi networks despite competition from rivals like Archer Aviation.

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Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation is looking to become the Middle East’s first certified air taxi operator.

This week during the International Civil Aviation Organization’s inaugural Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Summit in Montreal, Joby took the first step in securing an air operator certificate from the United Arab Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)—a requirement to operate commercial air transport in the country.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.