Dubai opens world's first commercial vertiport near Dubai International Airport
By Nicole Suárez, Carbon Free Aviation Journalist
20 April 2026
The world’s first commercial vertiport, situated by Dubai International Airport is now ready to handle electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Skyports Infrastructure announced on April 16 the facility’s technical completion, which is intended to support future air taxi services.
The vertiport features dedicated landing pads, passenger terminals, and operational systems required to handle electric aircraft in a commercial environment, and is expected to support initial operations as early as 2026, in partnership with manufacturers such as Joby Aviation.
Joby Aviation, a US-based eVTOL company, holds exclusive rights to operate air taxi services in Dubai for six years, and aims to introduce commercial passenger services in the UAE. The vertiport includes the Joby Aviation-developed Global Electric Aviation Charging System (GEACS), the first such fast-charging equipment to be fitted at a commercial vertiport.
The company has been conducting a series of test flights and public demonstrations. In June 2025, the company completed a series of piloted test flights of its eVTOL air taxi in Margham, validating aircraft performance under local environmental conditions.
The programme also included the first UAE piloted flights between two locations, alongside daily flight demonstrations at the Dubai Airshow 2025. The company’s initial commercial operations are targeted to commence before the end of 2026.
Joby’s UAE General Manager, Anthony El-Khoury, said: “Together with the RTA, we’re proud to celebrate this important step and the progress it represents toward launching operations. We look forward to beginning commercial flights and to delivering fast, quiet, and sustainable air travel for Dubai’s residents and visitors.”
Designed for high-capacity operations, the vertiport is capable of handling up to 170,000 passengers annually and up to 42,000 aircraft movements, is also directly accessible to the Emirates Metro Station and includes an integrated multistorey car park. Alongside eVTOL operations, it is also designed to handle conventional helicopter traffic.
The facility is the first node in a broader network planned to connect key destinations across Dubai. Additional facilities are in development at Dubai Marina, Dubai Mall, and Palm Jumeirah. At Dubai Marina another node is currently under construction, with work at Dubai Mall and Palm Jumeirah set to begin in the coming months.
The CEO of Skyports Infrastructure, Duncan Walker, said: “With the world’s first commercial vertiport now being in a technical position to take eVTOL flights, we are seeing aviation history in the making. After years of planning and in depth design, this new class of infrastructure brings together the latest technologies and innovations that will change how people move around their cities.”
By advancing infrastructure projects ahead of full commercial deployment, these facilities may reduce lead times once aircraft receive certification. According to an analysis published last month by Aviation Business Middle East, Dubai’s vertiport completion positions the emirate as one of the few cities where ground infrastructure is already in place ahead of commercial aircraft approval.
