Skyports Vertiport Design Approved for Dubai Usage

Skyports Infrastructure, a new developer of eVTOL vertiport infrastructure, has achieved approval for its vertiport design by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai at the World Government Summit 2023.

The vision for Dubai’s future air mobility infrastructure network was jointly presented by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Skyports Infrastructure, and Joby Aviation at a closed presentation ahead of the start of the World Government Summit.

The air mobility expo demonstrated the RTA and Skyports Infrastructure’s planned roadmap for developing a vertiport network in Dubai for launch by 2026; including a concept for how future vertiport design may look and how it will integrate with existing transportation, including the RTA’s Dubai Metro network and Dubai International Airport.

Four vertiport sites located near Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown and Dubai Marina, which are currently being considered by Skyports Infrastructure and RTA, were presented to a senior delegation which included His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, accompanied by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. These initial locations will connect four of Dubai’s most popular – and populous – areas, providing high-speed, zero-emissions air connectivity.

An architectural model of Skyports’ vertiport near Dubai International Airport was presented to the special delegation by RTA Chairman, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer. Pioneer of electric vertical take- off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Joby Aviation, which last week became the first eVTOL aircraft manufacturer to complete the second stage in the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) aircraft type certification process, joined RTA and Skyports Infrastructure at World Government Summit to promote the opportunities of aerial mobility in Dubai.

Ahmed Bahrozyan, Chief Executive Officer of The Public Transport Agency at RTA, said, “The RTA’s plan for aerial taxis is in line with the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to make 25 percent of all trips in Dubai driverless by 2030. The project aims to roll out a new mobility service driven by pioneering technology to ease the mobility of individuals across urban areas in a safe, smooth, and sustainable manner integrated with the public transport network in Dubai. The service is set to be operational by 2026.”

Why it’s important: Skyports’ design approval in Dubai marks another external approval for the company’s growth efforts and growing stake in early relationships with one of a few initial eVTOL operations sites that seek to quickly adapt and integrate aerial mobility technology into their transportation ecosystems.