Joby's electric air taxi is due to carry its first passengers in Dubai by the end of 2026, from a new vertiport next to DXB.
Joby S4 over Palm Jumeirah
4passengers and a pilot
320 km/htop speed
About 12 minDXB to Palm Jumeirah
4vertiports in the first network
160 kmrange
USAmade by Joby Aviation
How it will work
Book in the app, including Uber ("Uber Air powered by Joby"), go through a security check, and take off within 10 minutes of check-in.
Fares are not set yet. RTA says they will cost less than a helicopter and should come close to an Uber or Careem fare over time.
The four vertiports
The DXB vertiport
All four are meant to open together.
DXB, next to Dubai International: built, and certified by the GCAA in Jul 2026 as the world's first purpose-built commercial vertiport. Four storeys, two pads, room for 170,000 passengers a year.
Dubai Marina, at American University in Dubai: nearly complete (Aug 2026).
Downtown, at Dubai Mall: work due to start.
Palm Jumeirah, at Atlantis The Royal: work due to start.
Where it runs
The map loads as you scroll to it.
The aircraft
The Joby S4 is fully electric, with six tilting rotors and four battery packs. It takes off and lands like a helicopter and cruises like a plane. A pilot flies it. Joby flew 21 piloted test flights in Dubai in summer 2025.
ModelJoby S4
Made inUSA (Joby Aviation)
Riders4 passengers and a pilot
Facts and sources
Operator and rightsJoby Aviation; six-year exclusive right to operate air taxis in Dubai
Partners and rolesRTA oversees governance; Skyports designs, builds and runs the vertiports; GCAA, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Dubai Air Navigation Services work with RTA and Joby on the launch
AircraftJoby S4: pilot plus 4 passengers, six rotors, four battery packs
Top speed (Joby, 2024)Up to 200 mph (about 320 km/h)
Range and top speed (RTA, 2025)Range 160 km, top speed 320 km/h
Range and top speed (Dubai Media Office, 2023)Range 241.4 km, speed 300 km/h. These figures differ from the 2025 figures
Trip time DXB to Palm JumeirahAbout 10 minutes by air vs about 45 minutes by car (Joby, Feb 2024)
Trip time DXB to Palm Jumeirah (RTA)About 12 minutes (Nov 2024); under 12 minutes (The National, Apr 2026)
Number of vertiports, first network4: DXB, Dubai Mall (Downtown), Atlantis The Royal (Palm Jumeirah), American University in Dubai (Dubai Marina)
Site hostsDubai Mall site: Zabeel Dubai Mall parking area, run by Emaar Properties. Palm site: within Atlantis The Royal. Marina site: American University in Dubai parking area, managed by Wasl Asset Management Group
DXB vertiport size and capacityAbout 3,100 sq m; about 42,000 aircraft movements and 170,000 passengers a year
DXB vertiport designFour storeys with a separate car park of ground plus two levels (G+2) and two take-off and landing pads; 170,000 passengers a year
DXB vertiport designerGHD was lead design consultant for Skyports (G+3, over 3,000 sq m, 2 pads, up to 42,000 aircraft movements a year); initial operations targeted before end of 2026
DXB vertiport positionNext to Dubai International Airport, with 'direct integration into Dubai Metro'
DXB vertiport position (Gulf News)Adjacent to the Emirates headquarters
DXB vertiport nameSkyports calls it VDX. Joby wrote DXV in May 2026 and VDX in Aug 2026
Build status, DXBTechnical completion Apr 2026 (Skyports, via The National); GCAA certified it in Jul 2026
Build status, American University in Dubai (Marina)Joby: 'nearing completion' (May 2026). Joby in Aug 2026: 'the second of four vertiports ... is nearly complete' (site not named)
Build status, Dubai Mall and Atlantis The RoyalThe National (Apr 2026): work 'expected to start in the coming months'; the aim is for all four sites to open at the same time. No later public update found
GCAA vertiport certificateGCAA certified VDX as the 'world's first purpose-built commercial vertiport'. The review covered infrastructure, operations, safety management and emergency preparedness
Passenger processBook in an app, pass a security check; check-in to take-off in 10 minutes or less
Booking through UberRides to be offered as 'Uber Air powered by Joby' in Dubai
FaresNot announced. RTA (Nov 2025): 'We have not decided the price yet, but it will be cheaper than helicopters'; the aim is to come close to an Uber or Careem fare over time
Test flights21 piloted test flights in Dubai in summer 2025 (Joby letter of Aug 2025), including vertical take-offs, landings and full transitions
Current launch targetRTA (Aug 2026): 'preparing to launch commercial operations of the Air Taxi by the end of the year'; same aim given in Apr 2026. Joby's Aug 2026 letter targets first passengers in 2026 but ties that line to its US eIPP flights, not to Dubai.
Operator certificate processIn Sep 2024 Joby gave the GCAA a Letter of Intent to start its air operator certificate application. Five stages, including operating manuals, inspection of UAE facilities, and GCAA observation of pilot and mechanic training and flight operations
GCAA certification targetGCAA said it expected to complete air taxi certification by Q3 2026
Next marketRAKTA, Joby and Skyports plan air taxis in Ras Al Khaimah by 2027, first vertiport on Al Marjan Island, DXB to Al Marjan in under 15 minutes
