Abu Dhabi Achieves Success in First Flying Taxi Trial

Abu Dhabi has officially entered the future of urban transport with a successful test flight of its flying taxi at Al Bateen Executive Airport on Wednesday.

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The milestone flight was announced by the US-based Archer Aviation in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), marking a major step toward the commercial launch of flying taxi services, which is expected to begin in early 2026.

“Today is the first step of many to enable the commercialisation of air taxis in Abu Dhabi and the UAE,” said Omran Malek, head of autonomous mobility and robotics at ADIO. “We’re not just launching a service, we’re building an entire ecosystem around it, including pilot training, maintenance, manufacturing, and workforce development.”

Testing For UAE’s Unique Conditions

The test flight of Archer’s Midnight aircraft featured a vertical takeoff and landing, designed to evaluate performance in the UAE’s challenging summer conditions, high temperatures, humidity, and dust.

Dr Talib Alhinai, manager of Archer Aviation UAE, explained:

“Our initial flight tests are all about validating the aircraft’s readiness for the UAE’s environment. Once that’s complete, we can move confidently into the commercial phase.”

More tests are planned over the summer to further study the aircraft’s durability in local conditions.

Building The Future of Urban Mobility

Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are racing to launch flying taxis, with Joby Aviation also conducting a successful test in Dubai earlier this week. Abu Dhabi, however, is taking a comprehensive approach by developing the necessary infrastructure, including vertiports, airspace integration, and local manufacturing facilities.

According to Malek, Archer plans to begin manufacturing the flying taxis in Al Ain by 2027, with plans to export them to other countries as interest grows in the region.

Affordable and Accessible

Contrary to popular belief, flying taxis won’t just be for luxury travelers. Malek reassured that the service is being designed to be affordable for the public:

“As we build more vertiports and increase the number of aircraft, the price will scale down, making it practical for daily use.”

In the initial commercial phase, a small fleet of aircraft will operate in Abu Dhabi, with the service gradually expanding as the supporting ecosystem matures.

With the first commercial flights targeted for early 2026, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a global leader in urban air mobility, not just testing the future but building it.