Archer, Joby sign deals to accelerate launch of air taxi services across UAE

On Tuesday, eVTOL makers Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation announced each company was expanding its presence in the Middle East. Archer signed a framework agreement in Abu Dhabi at the DRIFTx mobility event, covering multi-hundred-million-dollar investments to accelerate Archer’s commercial travel plans in the UAE. Joby shared that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with multiple departments in Abu Dhabi to lay the groundwork for the future scaling of air taxi services in the region.

In February, Joby announced it signed a deal with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority to launch air taxi services within the next two years, or sooner. The agreement gave Joby an exclusive for air taxi operations for six years and placed Dubai at the forefront of the emergence of next-gen air travel and aviation technology. The recent MoU was signed with the Department of Municipalities and Transport – Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. This will allow Joby to establish and scale its air taxi services in Abu Dhabi.

“The MoU aligns seamlessly with our Tourism Strategy 2030, which underscores our steadfast commitment to fostering sustainable growth and strategic development in the travel and tourism sector,” Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said. “As part of our focus on infrastructure and mobility, we are collaborating closely with both government and private sectors to harness smart city initiatives and sustainable technologies. Through the adoption of green transportation solutions, we aim to enhance the quality of experiences offered to both our community and visitors. The introduction of scale air taxi services marks a significant addition, enhancing accessibility to natural attractions, tourist hotspots, and architectural landmarks, thereby elevating overall visitor experiences.”

The MoU was signed at the DRIFTx International thought-leadership and exhibition platform in Abu Dhabi, which demonstrated the large support Joby has garnered as part of its participation in the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry cluster, building upon Joby’s existing commitments to the UAE. This includes the exclusive right to operate in Dubai achieved in February, and unlocks the potential for inter-emirate air taxi services, including between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

“Abu Dhabi aims to spearhead the advancement and implementation of the next era of advanced mobility solutions,” DMT Chairman Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa said. “Through the Emirate’s SAVI cluster and this visionary partnership with Joby, we are not only laying the foundation for cutting-edge air taxi services but also shaping the future of transportation; igniting a journey where the sky is no longer the limit, but the beginning of endless possibilities. We look forward to seeing their innovative aircrafts take-off from the UAE capital, offering the world a glimpse, through Abu Dhabi, of what the future of mobility looks like.”

Joby’s aircraft went on display in Abu Dhabi for the first time at the DRIFTx event. The eVTOL is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour, with zero operating emissions and low noise. The aircraft has a maximum range of 100 miles and would allow for faster and cleaner air travel within Abu Dhabi and across the United Arab Emirates. Joby has closely worked with the General Civil Aviation Authority of the UAE to determine a path to support the region and become a world leader in air taxis. This framework has built upon the FAA standards and additional company testing and analysis alongside a higher level of regulator oversight, alongside an ongoing review process to ensure safety for early operations. Inter-emirate travel would require additional approval from the GCAA.

Dubai Skyport rendering

 “Today’s agreement demonstrates the incredible momentum there is behind the adoption of clean flight across the UAE,” Joby founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt said. “We’re looking forward to delivering a fantastic experience for our future customers in Abu Dhabi and we’re excited to be unlocking the potential for zero-emissions flight between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. We’re grateful for the support and collaboration of our governmental partners and the entire ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and we remain deeply impressed by their commitment to building out a world-class aviation ecosystem in the Emirate.”

In November 2023, Joby’s eVTOL became the first electric air taxi to fly in New York City. Joby made the first-ever delivery of an air taxi to the U.S. Department of Defense in September 2023. Recently, in February, Joby announced it had completed the third out of five stages required to achieve FAA type certification.

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While Joby signed its MoU, Archer signed a framework agreement in Abu Dhabi at the same DRIFTx mobility event. The agreement covers multi-hundred-million-dollar investments that will rapidly grow Archer’s planned commercial air taxi operations in the UAE. The air taxi operations are expected to launch as soon as 2025 and include in-country manufacturing, operations and training in the region. The agreement will position Abu Dhabi as one of the world leaders in the promotion of air mobility. The plans are expected to begin with the Archer Midnight eVTOL as soon as next year. The collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office includes vertiport construction, operational enablement for air taxi operations and in-country manufacturing of the Midnight aircraft. With the agreement, ADIO will ensure local workforce development programs for Emirati talent and establish Archer’s international headquarters and Center of Excellence in Abu Dhabi.

“This substantial agreement with Abu Dhabi is a pivotal moment for Archer’s commercialization efforts across the Emirates, as it provides the catalyst to accelerate the launch of our electric air taxi service in the UAE as soon as late 2025,” Archer Founder and CEO Adam Goldstein said. “The agreement underscores Abu Dhabi’s strong commitment to Archer and conviction to become a global hub for urban air mobility. With Abu Dhabi’s support, we are poised to continue leading the transformation of urban transportation in the Emirate and across the globe.”

Through the recent agreement, ADIO will be supporting the development of vertiports and collaborating with Archer and other air taxi operators in critical locations across the region to enhance urban air mobility infrastructure which is crucial for Archer to scale its operations. ADIO and Archer first announced a MoU at the 2023 launch of the SAVI cluster. The framework is the culmination of six months of close collaboration between the two entities. Both Archer and ADIO will continue working with Archer’s partners to bolster progress in the region.

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“Abu Dhabi is leading the way in accelerating the launch of electric air taxis globally, and ADIO is proud to partner with Archer as one of the world’s most innovative companies,” ADIO Director General Badr Al-Olama said. “We are excited to support Archer toward establishing its international headquarters in Abu Dhabi, and to develop a comprehensive investment framework that will accelerate its progress towards manufacturing and operating its Midnight aircraft in the UAE.”