The UAE is set to make history in aviation. Archer Aviation, a developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, plans to start commercial air taxi services in the country as early as next year. This would make the UAE the first nation in the world to operate eVTOL flights commercially.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft is designed to carry four passengers and a pilot on short urban and inter-city routes. The company has already completed extensive testing in the UAE, including vertical takeoffs, winged flight transitions, and operations in desert conditions at Al Ain Airport.
According to Nikhil Goel, Archer’s Chief Commercial Officer, the company is ready to start flying passengers under Abu Dhabi’s launch programme next year. This puts the UAE ahead of the US, Europe, and Asia, where certification and infrastructure are still in development. Archer has worked closely with Abu Dhabi Aviation, the General Civil Aviation Authority, and Etihad Aviation Training to ensure pilots and aircraft are fully prepared.
Following its success in the UAE, Archer is expanding into Saudi Arabia through a partnership with the Public Investment Fund’s The Helicopter Company and Red Sea Global. The plan includes testing eVTOLs in real-world conditions at key Red Sea sites, including routes currently served by helicopters, boats, and seaplanes. Archer expects Saudi operations to start well before 2030.
Interest in eVTOL services is growing across the Middle East. Goel noted that many countries are looking to the UAE as a model, and Archer has already begun talks with other governments and sovereign funds in the region.
In addition to commercial aviation, Archer is also developing technology for defence use. The company recently agreed to supply its electric powertrain to Anduril Industries and the UAE’s EDGE Group for the Omen autonomous air vehicle, creating a new revenue stream.
Regulatory support in the UAE is also moving quickly. The General Civil Aviation Authority has issued the world’s first national vertiport rules, set up frameworks for shared infrastructure between helicopters and eVTOLs, and started mapping air corridors. Certification for air taxi services is expected by the third quarter of 2026, enabling early flights in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The road ahead
With strong testing, regulatory support, and regional partnerships, Archer is preparing to make eVTOL flights a reality. The UAE is leading the way, showing how next-generation air travel could soon transform urban mobility across the Gulf.
For industries that rely on new ideas and global trust, like real estate, this is very important. A city that carries out projects like flying taxis shows it is forward-thinking, and this builds the trust needed for long-term economic growth.
