Abu Dhabi

Agreement sets expectations for Archer’s regional partners, including operators, maintenance providers, and state-backed entities, to launch service as soon as next year.

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

Manufacturers of futuristic aircraft, such as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis, are flocking to the United Arab Emirates.

The manufacturer in December made the world’s first commercial eVTOL demonstration flight in China and has obtained type, production, and airworthiness approvals.

The Hong Kong-based firm is developing an aircraft-agnostic platform for on-demand, zero-emission trips.

The manufacturer will collaborate with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and the Emirate’s Department of Municipalities and Transportation.

Both companies are working with Abu Dhabi government agencies to build ecosystems in the city for their respective aircraft.

Vertiports will connect the two cities with estimated 30-minute flights, a fraction of the two hours it can take to drive between them during peak traffic.

The Chinese manufacturer joins Archer, Joby, and other eVTOL firms that have laid plans for operations in the Middle East.

The eVTOL manufacturer intends to make the UAE its first international launch market, adding to its projected services in the U.S.