Dubai will be the first city with a fully-developed network of vertiports for permanent air taxi services by 2026

The CEO of the London-based business in charge of constructing the UAE's first vertiport confidently predicted that flying taxis will be fully operational in Dubai by 2026 on the final day of the third Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport. Dubai will be the first city (in the world) with a fully built network of vertiports for permanent air taxi services by 2026, according to Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports, while discussing the future of air mobility. electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Any advanced air mobility (AAM) conveyance, including drones, may land and take off at a vertiport (vertical airport).

Technically speaking, it differs from a helipad or heliport, which are built to support traditional helicopters with different size and weight requirements than eVTOL aircraft like air taxis.A vertiport has a special need to make sure there is enough room between the landing and launching pads because it may house many drones. Additionally, it is made to refuel eVTOLs. In accordance with the emirate's goal to have air taxis take off by 2026, Walker's statement at the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport, hosted by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), was well-timed. The World Government Summit in Dubai back in February of this year approved the development of Skyports Infrastructure's vertiport design.

Mattar Al Tayer, RTA director general and chairman of the board of executive directors demonstrated a vertiport model to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. The flying taxi vertiport will initially run to and from vertiport stations in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown, and Dubai Marina, with its primary hub being positioned close to Dubai International Airport (DXB).