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DUBAI AIMS TO BEAT THE TRAFFIC WITH
2026 JOBY AIR TAXI LIFTOFF
Dubai commuters may Jumeirah aboard the In a ceremony attended by and hopefully people will company exclusive rights
soon have a new way to Joby Aerial Taxi will take senior government officials, barely notice it,” Khoury to operate aerial taxis in
skip traffic: air taxis. roughly twelve minutes, transport executives and said. the city for the next six
the company predicts, as company representatives, years.
Joby Aviation conducted opposed to 45 minutes by the experimental aircraft While eVTOLs such as
the first test flight of its car. executed a vertical takeoff, Joby’s have been hailed The company plans to
fully-electric air taxi in flew for several miles, and as the future of urban inaugurate the emirate’s
the emirate this week, a While Joby’s long-term then returned for a vertical air the industry still faces commercial air-taxi service
major milestone in the ambition is to make its landing. major hurdles -- including in 2026, with four initial
city’s efforts to integrate aerial taxis “affordable for securing regulatory vertiports located at Dubai
airborne transport into everybody to use,” Khoury The Joby Aerial Taxi, the approval and developing International Airport (DXB),
existing mobility networks says, they acknowledge flagship electric vertical sufficient vertiport Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
as early as next year. early pricing will likely take-off and landing infrastructure. Downtown and Dubai
target higher-income (eVTOL) aircraft developed Marina.
Joby hopes its air-taxis will travelers. “As with any by the California-based Morgan Stanley
ease pressure on existing novel technology, early company, can fly distances downgraded Joby’s stock “In aviation, you don’t see
ground transportation days might be a bit more of up to 160 kilometers (100 price target from $10 transformations like this,”
and offer travelers a faster premium.” miles) at speeds reaching to $7 in April, flagging said Didier Papadopoulos,
alternative as Dubai faces 320km/hr (200mph). near-term execution risks Joby’s President of Original
increasing congestion. The demonstration flight and broader aerospace Equipment Manufacturing.
was held on Monday at Fully electric, with zero industry concerns, including
“We want to change the an isolated desert site operating emissions, Joby’s tariffs and supply-chain “Every once in a while, you
way people commute,” southeast of Dubai’s air-taxi is designed to be issues. Joby is currently have this propulsive move
Anthony Khoury, Joby’s downtown and was both eco-friendly and quiet trading at $10.55. into the future. What you’re
UAE General Manager, designed to emulate a enough for commercial use witnessing here is really
said. typical aerial taxi journey, in dense urban areas. In early 2024, Joby exciting, and I’m excited for
according to Joby Aviation signed a contract with you to be riding this one
A journey from Dubai’s officials. “It will be flying in the city, Dubai’s Roads and Transit point in the future.”
main airport DXB to Palm next to residential areas, Authority that awarded the
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