UAE started mapping its air corridor for piloted and autonomous flying taxis and cargo drones

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates has begun mapping its air corridor and is developing the regulatory framework for the use of cargo drones and piloted and autonomous taxis.

According to GCAA, the rules and aerial corridors would be established in the upcoming 20 months. The service is expected to start in the first quarter of 2026, making Dubai the first city in the world to implement the aerial taxi initiative. Dubai International Vertiport (DXV), the nation's first commercial vertiport, was announced on January 9.

The construction of vertiports at three strategic sites in Abu Dhabi—Al Bateen, Yas Island, and Khalifa Port—was also announced early this week. Flying taxis, which are expected to begin operating in 2026, will use vertiports for takeoff, landing, and maintenance.

Aspire and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), an organization of the GCAA and Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), signed a strategic agreement Thursday at the World Governments Summit to exchange technical skills in airspace management, including mapping the UAE's air corridor.

The aforementioned organizations committed to "ensuring the safe integration of cargo drones and piloted and autonomous air taxis into urban environments."