UAE to Complete Air Taxi Certification by Q3 2026, Regulator Says - As-salamu alaykum
As-salamu alaykum. The UAE's aviation regulator expects to finish certifying air taxis by the third quarter of 2026 as the country moves ahead with smart mobility plans to reduce road congestion and welcome more international visitors.
Saif Al Suwaidi, director general of the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority, said the certification process is underway and is expected to be complete by next year, around Q3, once the machines meet all safety requirements. He added that operations will be allowed to begin immediately after certification.
Timelines are being agreed with applicants, and dedicated teams have been set up for each eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) programme. The UAE aims to start commercial electric air taxi services next year.
This year, Joby Aviation carried out an electric air taxi test flight in partnership with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority, and Archer Aviation completed a test flight in Abu Dhabi. Ras Al Khaimah expects to launch its first passenger air taxi service by 2027 and has signed initial agreements with Joby Aviation and Skyports Infrastructure. The planned network will link Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism sites with Joby’s proposed Dubai service, cutting travel time between the two from over an hour to about 15 minutes. Initially, fares will be similar to premium car services, with hopes to make them more affordable as flight numbers increase, said Anthony Khoury, UAE general manager at Joby.
On airspace management, Mr Al Suwaidi said the GCAA has established a national platform for drones and low-level traffic, including eVTOLs, which is already live. With that management system in place, he said there is confidence in controlling increasingly busy skies shared by drones, flying taxis and commercial aircraft.
Other UAE news and quick notes: Lamsa, founded by Badr Ward in 2014, is an Abu Dhabi–based EdTech startup with about 60 employees and $15 million funding to date. A public exhibition, Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, will open in Abu Dhabi in mid-October for a month at The Galleria on Al Maryah Island. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer low-cost index tracking across markets and commodities, and major providers include iShares, Vanguard, State Street SPDRs, X-trackers and Invesco.
Safety reminders for finance: use regulated platforms, stop transactions and keep evidence if you suspect fraud, report to local authorities and warn others.
Racing results highlights: winners included Deryan, Secret Ambition, Subjectivist, Extravagant Kid, Rebel’s Romance, Zenden, Lord North and Mishriff across various Dubai races.
Social and humanitarian notes: Ziina is helping Beirut relief efforts in partnership with UNHCR to raise funds for rebuilding homes after the August blast. And a reminder from Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish’s words about hope and longing - many know his life and work as a voice of homeland and resistance.
May Allah keep travelers safe and guide progress to benefit people responsibly. Wa alaykum as-salam.
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