The UAE is set to introduce air taxis next year, with US-based Archer Aviation delivering its first Midnight aircraft to the US Air Force for evaluation.
This comes after the UAE’s Abu Dhabi Investment Office signed a multi-million-dollar deal with Archer to establish its international headquarters in Abu Dhabi and manufacture air taxis.
The new air taxi service will dramatically reduce travel time between Abu Dhabi and Dubai from 60-90 minutes to just 10-20 minutes, with ride costs estimated between Dh800 and Dh1,500. Within an emirate, rides are expected to cost around Dh350.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft, designed for vertical takeoff and landing, has passed the US Department of Defence’s military airworthiness assessment, paving the way for flight testing and validation of its operational and military capabilities.
The aircraft promises a safer, quieter, and more cost-effective alternative to current options, with significant potential to enhance military aviation operations.