The United Arab Emirates is rapidly positioning itself as a global hub for urban air mobility, securing two major flying taxi deals—one with China and another with U.S.-based Joby Aviation—collectively signaling a transformative shift in the region’s transportation landscape.
In a landmark agreement, a UAE-based company signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese manufacturer to purchase 350 E20 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Valued at approximately $1 billion, this marks China’s largest eVTOL pre-order to date.
According to People’s Daily Online, the partnership was initiated at last year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE) and aims to introduce the E20 aircraft across sectors like low-altitude tourism and urban air mobility in the Middle East and North Africa.
The E20, developed domestically in China, is engineered for efficiency and speed—capable of carrying a pilot and four passengers, flying up to 200 kilometers with a top speed of 320 km/h. Delivery of the aircraft will occur in multiple phases, paving the way for what experts believe could become a new era of clean, efficient, and traffic-free aerial transport.
At the same time, California-based Joby Aviation has delivered its first eVTOL aircraft to the UAE, part of an exclusive agreement with Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority. Joby is expected to launch commercial air taxi operations in Dubai by 2026. Founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt expressed his enthusiasm, saying:
“Our flights and operational footprint in Dubai are a monumental step toward weaving air taxi services into the fabric of daily life worldwide.” He described the UAE as a “launchpad for a global revolution in how we move.”
As part of the agreement, Joby has begun building one vertiport at Dubai International Airport, with additional locations planned across Palm Jumeirah, downtown, and the marina area. The company also struck a separate air mobility deal with Abu Dhabi authorities earlier this year, extending its reach across the Emirates.
Beyond the UAE, Joby is expanding into Saudi Arabia through a $1 billion deal with Abdul Latif Jameel for up to 300 eVTOLs. The soaring interest in air taxis, bolstered by increasing investments and supportive government policies—including a recent U.S. executive order from Donald Trump endorsing pilot eVTOL programs—is propelling the industry toward mainstream adoption.
As aerial mobility gains altitude, the UAE’s billion-dollar bets are placing it squarely at the forefront of the next transportation revolution.
